Union bans driving train from rear after fatal Westwood crash

“For those that may not understand LEL, I summarise it as driving your car whilst sitting in the boot.”

The Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees has banned ‘long end leading’ - driving a train from the rear - in response to the death of Chris O’Brien in a train crash in Westwood in June.

State Secretary Michael McKitrick said the AFULE was banning all long end leading in Queensland until further notice.

“I must applaud almost all rail operators for coming out in support of the AFULE long end leading ban,” he said.

“For those that may not understand LEL, I summarise it as driving your car whilst sitting in the boot.

“You can still see where you are going, but your view is greatly restricted as the engine of the locomotive [is] in front of you as opposed to behind you.

“We are still working out some issues with two operators, but we are hopeful of a safe outcome that enables operations to continue whilst removing LEL.”

He expressed his condolences to Mr O’Brien’s family and other union members affected by the crash.

The AFULE elaborated on the ban: “Mick has banned mainline Long End Leading in any circumstances except life threatening emergencies across all operators.

“He’s considering our options regarding this activity when shunting and will discuss with individual operators and the Regulator in the immediate future.

“Anyone directed to undertake mainline Long End Leading is to refuse the direction and contact the AFULE State Office or your local Divisional Councillor immediately.”

On June 25, the National Rail Safety Regulator issued a safety alert about long end leading, saying that it causes drivers to have “a more restrictive view of the route ahead and as a result the risk profile of such operations may be increased”.

“From August onwards rail safety officers will be contacting selected rail transport operators to review the work undertaken and expect rail transport operators to be able to demonstrate that any long end leading operations are conducted in a manner that manages the risks to safety SFAIRP [so far as is reasonably practicable].”

Mr McKitrick also set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Mr O’Brien’s wife, Tiara.

At the time of writing, donations totalled more than $4,500 of a $5,000 goal.

“Chris, a father, husband, train driver and AFULE union member was tragically killed in a workplace incident whereby the locomotive he was driving collided with a stationary train west of Rockhampton, Queensland on Friday 18th June 2021,” Mr McKitrick wrote.

“Any donations raised here will go directly to assist Chris’s wife, Tiara to take care of her family as they rebuild their life and create a legacy for Chris.”