Bowen Rail Company trains on collision course after red stop signal error

An emergency response was triggered after one of Bravus’ trains ran a red light, sparking fears of a potentially devastating head-on collision with another nearby coal train.

Bowen Rail Company is starting its recruitment for more than 20 locally-based jobs. Photo: Cameron Laird

Mining giant Bravus shut down its rail network in Central Queensland for several hours earlier this week after two of its coal trains came with 1.1km of a potentially devastating head-on collision

The fiasco happened after a Bowen Rail Company train passed a red stop signal about 2.5km from the Collinsville-Elphinstone Rd overpass on Tuesday night, triggering an emergency response.

Bowen Rail Company, the freight arm of Bravus, ships coal from the Carmichael site northwest of Clermont to the Abbot Point coal terminal north of Bowen.

A company spokesman said all trains travelling on the network were required to come to a stop as part of the emergency response.

Bowen Rail Company ships coal from the Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin to the Abbot Point Terminal near Bowen. Photo: Cameron Laird

“Safety is our number one priority and we are pleased that our safety and emergency procedures were effective, no one was injured, and no equipment was damaged,” she said.

It is understood the trains were on Bravus’ own network and trains on the parallel Newlands line were not affected.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator is investigating the incident.

Bowen Rail Company is also conducting its own internal investigation into the error.

It is unclear at this time why the train passed the red stop signal or if driver error was involved.

Bravus, formerly known as Adani, constructed the Carmichael mine in the face of relentless opposition from environmentalists.

It now exports 10 million tonnes of coal per annum to Asia-Pacific markets.