Thousands of litres of diesel leaks after freight train hits tree branch at Upper Sturt in Adelaide Hills

Emergency services are mopping up after a 1.5km-long freight train smashed into a tree branch in the Adelaide Hills, flooding the track with a a river of diesel.

Emergency services responded to a hazmat incident after a 1.5 km-long freight train hit a tree branch. Picture: SA CFS

Emergency services are responding to a hazmat incident after a 1.5km-long freight train slammed into a tree branch, damaging the diesel tank and brakes.

Around 4.15am, 20 CFS firefighters responded with four fire trucks to a train diesel leak in Upper Sturt, Adelaide Hills.

The Advertiser understands the driver was unharmed and brought the train to a safe stop.

The CFS brigades worked quickly to plug the leak and contain the diesel spill, with the CFS reporting the leak had been limited to between 8000 and 10,000 litres, a “significant reduction” from the tank’s full capacity of 20,000 litres.

Emergency services are still active in the area managing the clean-up and tree removal.

Originally published as Thousands of litres of diesel leaks after freight train hits tree branch at Upper Sturt in Adelaide Hills