End of train conspicuity
Date issue released
Safety Issue Description

Vegetation and a low fence adjacent the Mile End crossing loop partially obscured the view that the crew of train 2MP9 had of the empty flat wagons at the rear of train 2MP1.

Issue number
RO-2015-007-SI-01
Transport Function
Rail: Infrastructure
Issue Owner
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Mode of Transport
Rail
Issue Status Justification

The ATSB considers greater proactive action should be taken by the ARTC to resolve this safety issue.

Proactive action
Organisation
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Action date
Action Status
Released
Action description

In response to this safety issue, the Australian Rail Track Corporation have responded:

The vegetation is located on private property, the fence is approximately 1.2 metre high chain mesh. Even if removed the increase in sighting distance would be minimal.

The precursor to the incident – over speed operation for the available sighting distance (speed at point of impact 22 km/h) clearly indicates that achieving a minimal increase in sighting distance would not have prevented the collision.

ATSB Response

The ATSB considers greater proactive action should be taken by the ARTC to resolve this safety issue. While the ATSB acknowledges ARTC’s viewpoint that the collision was ‘over speed operation for the available sighting distance’, the removal of vegetation and other obstructions to sighting may have allowed the more timely recognition of the train ahead (2MP1) by the driver of 2MP9 and may have prevented the collision or reduced the extent of damage sustained.

Recommendation
Action number
RO-2015-007-SR-008
Organisation
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Action date
Action Status
Released
Action description

The ATSB recommends that the ARTC takes action to improve the sighting distances available within the Mile End crossing loop by removing unnecessary vegetation and other obstructions.