140 passengers stuck on train between stations, paramedics treat heat stress

About 140 commuters were stranded on a train between Brisbane and the Gold Coast on Monday, with paramedics called to help some people suffering from heat stroke.

Emergency crews help passengers left stranded on a train between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Picture: 7News

Almost 150 commuters were stuck on a train near Beenleigh for more than an hour with ambulance crews rushing to treat passengers sweltering in the heat.

The train had stopped on the tracks near Yatala around 2.30pm, leaving about 140 passengers with nowhere to go as temperatures reached about 35C.

Fifteen people were assessed for heat-related stress as they waited for the train to resume operations, with one 20-year-old taken to a private residence due to a medical condition.

QAS senior operations supervisor Adam Flory said that while some people were distressed due to the heat, most of the passengers were in “high spirits” as they were moved onto another train that was parked nearby.

The passengers were moved within the hour without “much incident”, he said.

#MtWarrenPark - The QAS and other emergency services have crews on scene to assist with the evacuation of more than 100 people stranded on a train at Mt Warren Park near Yatala. pic.twitter.com/NWFnr3Rnz8

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) November 21, 2022

The incident occurred after a tree crashed into over head power lines near Ormeau station.

Power had to be cut to the train line, severing services to and from Ormeau Station.

Trains were still running in both directions from the Gold Coast to Coomera and from Brisbane’s CBD to Beenleigh.

Fire crews were called to move people to safety and Queensland Rail organised buses to and from Ormeau station from Beenleigh and Coomera.

The train stopped on the tracks near Yatala. Picture: Nigel Hallett

At 4pm delays of 30 minutes were still impacting outbound services on the Gold Coast line as they continued to run through to Varsity Lakes station, a Queensland Rail spokesperson said. Trains travelling into Brisbane were unaffected.

The impacted train services returned to normal operations at 4.30pm after the tree was removed from the overhead lines, according to a Queensland Rail spokeswoman. She said there were initially minor residual delays, but everything was back on the normal schedule by 7.30pm.

Queensland Rail head of South East Queensland Scott Riedel said the tree branch was reported just after 2.20pm.

Emergency crews at Yatala where the train stopped. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“As a result, one service lost power and became stuck mid-section with approximately 100 customers onboard,” he said.

Referring to all outbound train services being immediately suspended between Beenleigh and Coomera stations, he said: “The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and emergency services are currently onsite assisting in the evacuation of those customers.”

Alternative transport was arranged for customers.