AN INVESTIGATION has commenced into the derailment of a freight train travelling from Brisbane to Sydney last week.
Operated by Pacific National, the train lost 11 wagons near Kyogle in New South Wales at 0102 on Tuesday 31 May.
The train was on its way from the Brisbane Freight Terminal in Acacia Ridge to the Sydney Freight Terminal in Chullora.
“The train was travelling towards Sydney on a single line section of the North Coast line at the time of the derailment,” ATSB said in a statement.
“There were no injuries but a significant amount of damage to wagons and track infrastructure occurred.”
The NSW Office of Transport Safety Investigations is conducting the investigation on behalf of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The ATSB will provide OTSI with technical and analytical support.
OTSI investigators have begun collecting evidence from involved and other interested parties to determine the factors contributing to the accident.
Investigators intend to gather evidence including CCTV footage, data logger information, recent track inspection and maintenance works, wagon build and maintenance history and actions of the train crew.
ATSB will release a final report at the conclusion of the investigation, planned for the fourth quarter of 2022.
ATSB and OTSI said they will immediately notify relevant parties if a critical safety issue is identified during the course of the investigation so appropriate and timely action can be taken.
Pacific National declined to comment on this story.
