Executive summary
At about 1448 on Wednesday 5 March 2008, a double road-train loaded with bulk cement drove into the path of a train that was conveying four empty fuel tankers at the Stirling Street level crossing, Birkenhead, SA. The impact speed of both the train and road-train was low (about 15 km/h) but nevertheless sufficient to roll the prime mover and the first semitrailer onto their sides and to derail the lead bogie of the train's locomotive. The road-train driver was slightly injured; the two train drivers were shaken but otherwise unhurt.
Road traffic at the Stirling Street level crossing was controlled by 'Stop' sign assemblies. At the time of the collision, the level crossing was in the process of being converted from passive (Stop sign) to active control (flashing lights and boom barriers) as part of a major road upgrade called the 'Port River Expressway Project'. The investigation found that the Stop sign assembly was moved from its original position sometime during the upgrade and a 'Stop' line was not visible on the road surface. In the absence of a Stop line, visibility along the rail line was, at best, intermittent.
The investigation concluded that it is likely the road-train did not stop at the Stop sign assembly and travelled over the Stirling Street level crossing at a relatively constant speed of about 15 km/h. The investigation also found that the road-train involved in the collision was not authorised to operate on Stirling Street as no Heavy Vehicle Permit (HVP) for this vehicle had been issued by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.
Safety issues identified by the investigation relate to compliance of the level crossing with relevant standards, notification to the rail infrastructure manager of a non-compliance identified at audit and the issuing of HVP's for road-train routes that involve level crossings. The ATSB has acknowledged proactive safety action taken by relevant parties in response to those identified safety issues. In addition, the ATSB has issued four safety recommendations.
Lack of Interface Agreement, Stirling Street Level
Crossing
The Port Adelaide Enfield City Council has advised that the
recommendation is accepted. The Council is awaiting the drafting of
Interface Agreements by the SA State Level Crossing Advisory
Committee. Also, the Council has advised that they are currently
working with the Department of Transport, Energy and
Infrastructure's (DTEI) Level Crossing Unit in relation to DTEI's
survey and assessment of level crossings in SA.
After monitoring the response to the recommendations issued to
the ARTC and the Port Adelaide Enfield City Council for 12 months,
the latest advice received from the relevant SA Department is that
it is anticipated that a Bill amending the SA Rail Safety Act 2007
that will mandate Level Crossing Interface Agreements between the
rail track owner and the relevant road authority will be enacted
during 2011. Given that both the ARTC and the Port Adelaide Enfield
City Council have agreed to the recommendations and because the
ramifications pertaining to level crossings are State-wide rather
than any given level crossing, the ATSB considers that the matter
is being dealt with at the appropriate level.
Safety Issue
At the time of the collision, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the Port Adelaide Enfield Council did not have an interface coordination plan to manage the risks associated with the Stirling Street level crossing interface, including the installation and maintenance of pavement marking.
Safety recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Port Adelaide Enfield City Council takes action to address this safety issue.
The ARTC accepts the above recommendation. The ARTC has been
working towards establishing an interface agreement with the SA
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure for several
years. It is anticipated that once a model agreement is established
negotiations with Local Government agencies will progress at
a significantly faster rate.
Negotiations with Local Government organisations if not
progressed as a block via the Local Government Association will
need to be progressed by individual negotiation with each
interfacing Council.
If the latter situation is the case ARTC reserves the right to
prioritise negotiations based on a number of interfaces and
perceived risk to the safety of rail operations.
After monitoring the response to the recommendations issued to
the ARTC and the Port Adelaide Enfield City Council for 12 months,
the latest advice received from the relevant SA Department is that
it is anticipated that a Bill amending the SA Rail Safety Act 2007
that will mandate Level Crossing Interface Agreements between the
rail track owner and the relevant road authority will be enacted
during 2011. Given that both the ARTC and the Port Adelaide Enfield
City Council have agreed to the recommendations and because the
ramifications pertaining to level crossings are State-wide rather
than any given level crossing, the ATSB considers that the matter
is being dealt with at the appropriate level.
At the time of the collision, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the Port Adelaide Enfield Council did not have an interface coordination plan to manage the risks associated with the Stirling Street level crossing interface, including the installation and maintenance of pavement marking.
Safety recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Australian Rail Track Corporation takes action to address this safety issue.
Safety Issue
The Australian Rail Track Corporation had not been approached as part of the SA Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure's (DTEI) process of issuing Heavy Vehicle Permits for routine 'fixed term' Restricted Access Vehicle operations. Consequently, the process may preclude the opportunity to determine all risks associated with a railway level crossing, or identify changes to a railway level crossing risk profile that may have occurred over a period of time.
Safety recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure take further action to address this safety issue.