Safety regulator finds track maintenance had dipped at time of train derailment in Melbourne

AUTHORITIES have revealed what caused a train derailment near Rushall station that threw Melbourne’s train network into chaos.

KEY maintenance work around Melbourne’s metropolitan network had fallen away at the time a train carrying 120 passengers derailed in Fitzroy North, a safety regulator has found.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today handed down its report into the February 2016 derailment that took place just 100m away from Rushall train station.

TRAIN DERAILS AT RUSHALL STATION

BOOM GATE FAIL TRAPPING RESIDENTS IN DRIVEWAYS

Crews at the scene of the derailment in 2016. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

The wheels of one of the carriages came off the tracks as it approached the station, investigators found. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

The wheels of one of the carriages came off the tracks as it approached the station, with one passenger taken to hospital with minor injuries as the network was thrown into chaos.

In its report the ATSB found the train had been travelling at a safe speed but a drop in important track work had been a key factor behind the crash.

“The maintenance of rail lubricators had become less effective in the months leading up to the derailment,” the report reads

“Rail lubricator maintenance was being transferred from contractors to Metro Trains Melbourne staff and this transition was not adequately managed.”

It comes after a week of pain with commuters in both Melbourne and regional Victoria, with track faults and issues delaying peak-hour services.

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