The crash energy management system on the Waratah passenger train A42 reduced the impact force of the collision but not all components performed as designed. The performance of the crash energy management system was significantly limited by the buffer stop at Richmond being incompatible with the front of the Waratah train.
The ATSB notes that the actions taken to examine the behaviour of the CEMS on A42 and the implementation of a compatible buffer stop design, once implemented, should address the safety issue.
Downer, in consultation with Reliance Rail, Sydney Trains and TfNSW completed a comprehensive review of the collision with the buffer at Richmond and has concluded that the Richmond buffer did not interface with the Waratah train and in fact restricted the operation of the CEMS systems at the front of the train. Because of the restricted energy absorption at the front end of the train this generated high vehicle decelerations causing the train carriages to pitch in excess of the design range of the coupler and inter car anti-climbers.
