Train route’s rocky history revealed after fatal derailment
As the community reels from the shocking train derailment which claimed two lives at Wallan, big failings along one of the nation’s key railway lines, which has suffered years of neglect, have been laid bare.
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Deep-seated frustrations over the dilapidated state of one of the nation’s key railway lines have been laid bare by the failures which led to Thursday night’s fatal derailment.
The North East Rail Line, which runs from Craigieburn to Seymour, Shepparton and Albury, is one of Victoria’s worst performing routes after years of neglect.
Last year, nearly half of all V/Line services to Albury ran late and commuters travelling through the northeast regularly complain of uncomfortable journeys and disruptions.
Victorian regional services through the area have been taking at least an extra hour in recent weeks, after a fire in a signal box at Wallan on February 3 deprived drivers of modern technology. Authorities were forced to ensure a second pilot sat in the cabin of trains to prevent accidents.
The signalling fault prompted one V/Line driver to refuse to pass through the area last week. The Herald Sun has been told others swapped shifts to avoid being placed on North East Line services.
Maintenance works at the Wallan loop on Thursday — carried out by the Australian Rail Track Corporation — compounded those problems by requiring drivers to travel at just 15kmh where trains usually travel six times as fast.
Rail Futures Institute president John Hearsch said the line was known for its “mud holes”, made worse by recent rain. Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan said she was approached almost daily over problems with the tracks.
Passengers on board Thursday’s fatal service said staff handed out complaint cards moments before the derailment after lengthy delays caused by the signal issues.
It is understood ARTC and V/Line staff meet up to three times a week to report incidents of “rough riding” on the network.
The corridor is managed by the ARTC and a $235 million upgrade to allow double-stacked freight trains to move in and out of Melbourne is expected to be finished by the middle of next year.
Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne confirmed maintenance works were happening before the crash.
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“That will be part of the investigation,” she said. “It will be absolutely comprehensive.”
Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Greg Wood said the watchdog would also investigate whether the train was adhering to strict speed limits. A preliminary report is expected in a month.
Investigators spent Friday examining the tracks and train, obtaining signalling data and interviewing witnesses.