Train hits barricade at Richmond, passengers injured
THE driver of the train that crashed into a buffer in Sydney’s west was “absolutely stunned” and was seen wandering around the scene afterwards looking dazed.
NSW
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THE driver of the train that crashed into a buffer in Sydney’s west was “absolutely stunned” and was seen wandering around the scene afterwards looking dazed.
Sixteen people were injured after a train hit a buffer at the end of the line at Richmond Station this morning.
An emergency services source said the driver was told to queue with passengers who needed treatment for minor injuries at the makeshift triage point.
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“He was absolutely stunned and a bit dazed and didn’t know where to go for treatment so was told to join the others needing treatment at the scene,” the source said.
A 21-year-old man is among 16 people injured following the accident which happened just before 10am at Richmond Station.
CareFlight’s rapid response rescue helicopter and two NSW ambulance helicopters were sent to the scene assisting SES and multiple Fire and Rescue units.
In a statement, CareFlight said the man was the most seriously injured of the 16 patients but had been taken to Westmead Hospital in a “stable condition”.
“CareFlight’s specialist doctor and critical care paramedic assisted in triaging patients aboard the train, before treating the 21-year-old man for leg fractures and spinal precautions due to neck injuries,” a spokesman said.
Two rail employees, including the driver, were treated by paramedics.
Eleven people were treated at a nearby oval. Five people remained on the train where they were treated. Their injuries are not considered life threatening.
NSW Ambulance incident commander, Superintendent Paul Turner, said 15 of those patients had been taken by ambulance to hospital. Patients suffered a range of injuries that are not serious, largely involving back and neck pain, cuts and bruising.
“No patients were trapped by compression, however several patients were classified as trapped as they were unable to leave the train without assistance from paramedics,” Supt Turner said.
“These people are very lucky, it was chaos, things could’ve been much much worse.
“The patients have been understandably shaken.”
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A 26-year-old woman was released after treatment for minor injuries at Westmead Hospital.
Other passengers still being treated at the hospital include a woman, 77, who suffered a fractured collar bone and shoulder, a woman, 69, who was thought to have spinal injuries but is believed to have suffered whiplash and a man, 22, who was admitted with a bruised thigh.
As many as 15 ambulances raced to the scene as well as two air ambulances.
Fifteen ambulances were sent to the scene to treat a number of patients with minor injuries.
Witnesses have described a scene of chaos, with the train hitting the buffer after slowing down at the end of the line.
Jaiden Ruttley said he thought he was going to die for a second because he didn’t know what was happening.
“I was just sitting there and all of a sudden I went I went flying off my seat,” he said.
“I thought am I going to die.”
One caller to Sydney’s 2GB radio who saw the crash said there was an “almighty bang”.
He said the train came in at speed and hit the buffer and rebounded. “There was a huge amount of dust,” he said.
“It’s all chaos here,” another caller, Steve, told the station.
Sydney Trains say the service from Richmond to Central has been cancelled.
Union negotiations over rail workers pay have been suspended this morning.
Transport for NSW bosses and union leaders have agreed to halt their discussion until after lunchtime so Sydney Trains can have all hands on deck to deal with the accident.
It comes as Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins confirmed a new offer had been made to the collective rail unions.
The union had been pushing for a rise of 6 per cent. Sources told The Daily Telegraph an offer around 3 per cent would be made today- in exchange for productivity gains.
Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins said: “This is a most unusual incident” and that most of the injuries are “bumps and bruises”. Mr Collins said one of his employees may have broken ribs.
Witness Noel Keogh said passengers were flying through the carriage “like superman”.
“I was in the carpark when I heard the train come in. It was coming too quick and the passengers in the train were just standing up and then they were just like superman when it hit and they were just flying through the carriage and I ran because the carriage was going to come off the tracks,” Mr Keogh said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to “get to the bottom” of the accident — adding she had “never seen anything like it” in her time.
“This is really concerning, fortunately it is not something that happens every day and I don’t want to for a second to underscore how serious this incident is.”
Transport minister Andrew Constance said: “My thoughts are with Sydney Trains passengers and crew who have been injured after a Waratah train struck a safety barrier at Richmond Station.
“Safety is our number one priority and we will now work to determine what caused the incident.
“I anticipate the current industrial negotiations between Sydney Trains and union delegates are likely to resume later today after being temporarily suspended following the incident to ensure passenger and staff safety were prioritised.”