Territory Event Service Christmas train running at Palmerston despite possible pending court case after train roll
A CHRISTMAS train which crashed and rolled last year, sending five people to hospital, is up and running again despite the operator still possibly facing pending charges
Northern Territory
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A CHRISTMAS train which crashed and rolled in the Botanical Gardens last year, sending five people to hospital, is up and running again in Palmerston, despite the operator stillpossibly facing pending charges.
The Christmas Train, owned by Territory Events Service and operated in the Botanic Gardens, rolled over last year when a carriage dislodged. Four children and an adult were sent to hospital.
This year, the train has been hired by Palmerston council for their Christmas Wonderland in December, with rides operating daily throughout the Christmas period.
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Territory Events Service director Colin West said those taking part couldn’t be on a safer train.
“The train has been fully certified, relooked at, double-checked, gone under vigorous examination, had components replaced – it’s been passed by every single authority you could think of,” he said.
“Safety is paramount and our first priority with how we use it. It’s not worth operating if there’s the chance of having an accident.”
Mr West said last year’s incident hadn’t turned people away or dampened this year’s Christmas cheer.
“It’s fun. It’s all about having fun, enjoying the Christmas season given the year we’ve had,” he said.
Mr West still possibly faces pending charges from last year’s incident, to which he pleaded not guilty to reckless driving endangering serious harm, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner.
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A City of Palmerston spokesman said $140,000 was budgeted for various events during Christmas Wonderland in December.
“With over 8100 visitors thus far, an overwhelmingly amount of positive feedback has been received,” he said.
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