Two pedestrians injured after freight train derails in Devonport, Tasmania
UPDATED: A HIGH-LEVEL safety investigation will be conducted to find out why an unmanned freight train careered out of control in Devonport.
Tasmania
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UPDATED: A HIGH-LEVEL safety investigation will be conducted to find out why an unmanned freight train careered out of control in Devonport.
Police were given just 10 minutes to clear motorists and pedestrians from the path of the train which was hurtling towards Devonport’s busy CBD on Friday morning before it was deliberately derailed in a bid to limit danger to people and damage to property.
A man and woman walking on a popular track alongside the Mersey River were injured from flying debris after TasRail initiated the emergency procedure opposite the city’s post office and about 300m from the Harbour Master Cafe.
Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Government’s thoughts were with the people injured.
“TasRail has enacted its Emergency and Incident Response Policy,” Mr Rockliff said.
A 240-tonne crane will be used to clear the train from the track today as investigators move in.
“The Australian Safety Transport Bureau and the National Rail Safety Regulator have been notified and a full investigation will be carried out to ascertain exactly the cause and what actions are required to prevent this happening again,” Mr Rockliff said.
“I thank our dedicated emergency service personnel for their quick response to the incident.”
The automated driverless train was carrying cement from the Goliath plant at Railton.
Tasmania Police received a call from the rail operator at 9am to warn them of the pending crisis.
“It appears to have become unsteady on the tracks in the Sheffield Rd area. We then had about 10 minutes’ warning that it was on its way into Devonport,” Inspector Stewart Wilkinson said. Police were running and driving alongside the train as it careered along the tracks.
He estimated the train was travelling at about 50km/h when it was forced to a stop.
“It jumped in the air and came to a stop very quickly. However, it did cross about 30m of the walking track and unfortunately two people were hurt,” he said.
“If the train had continued on into even busier parts of the city it could have been a much more serious situation.
“All in all it was an outstanding result and TasRail’s emergency protocol worked very effectively.”
He said all police resources had been called in to warn people of the situation and get pedestrians and vehicles out of the area.
“It is the first time I have had to deal with an out-of-control train and I hope it is the last,” Insp Wilkinson said.
Both pedestrians were taken to the North West Regional Hospital. The woman, in her 20s, sustained cuts and abrasions to her head from fencing material and the man, in his 40s, had cuts and a suspected broken elbow.
TasRail said its Network Control Centre was alerted to the incident at 8.48am and police were notified.
“TasRail’s Network Control Manager remained on the telephone with police to provide live updates and advice on the operation of the train as it travelled toward Devonport,” the rail operator said.
“The train was diverted to a dead-end siding track that has a permanent derailer, ensuring the train could be halted in the safest possible location.
“TasRail can now confirm that the train was being operated via on-site handheld remote control technology, which has been utilised for more than 15 years at this location.”
“TasRail has launched a detailed investigation into this incident and will continue to co-operate with all relevant authorities and its highly valued customers to manage the impacts,” TasRail said.
Owner of the Harbour Master Cafe Leigh Murphy said his business was serving customers when the crash occurred. “We heard this loud rumbling noise and thought it was an excavator coming off the Spirit of Tasmania on the other side of the river,” Mr Murphy said.
“Then we saw clouds of cement dust and a couple of people on the ground. We have had to close because our water supply has been cut.”
The derailment also put the Torquay Ferry — which carries passengers across the Mersey River — out of action, with mangled carriages coming to rest over the walkway which leads to the boarding platform.
EARLIER: AN out-of-control freight train which was hurtling towards Devonport’s busy CBD this morning was deliberately derailed in a bid to limit injury to pedestrians and damage to property.
A man and woman walking on the popular track alongside the Mersey River were injured from flying debris after TasRail initiated the emergency procedure opposite the city’s post office and about 300m from the Harbour Master Cafe.
The automated driverless train was carrying cement from the Goliath plant at Railton.
Tasmania Police received a call from the rail operator at 9am to warn them of the pending crisis.
“It appears to have become unsteady on the tracks in the Sheffield Rd area. We then had about 10 minutes warning that it was on its way into Devonport,’ Inspector Stewart Wilkinson said.
He estimated the train was travelling at about 50km/h when it was forced to a stop.
“It jumped in the air and came to a stop very quickly. However, it did cross about 30m of the walking track and unfortunately two people were hurt,” he said.
“If the train had continued on into even busier parts of the track it could have been a much more serious situation.
“All in all it was an outstanding result and TasRail’s emergency protocol worked very effectively.”
He said all police resources had been called in to warn people of the situation and get pedestrians and vehicles out of the area.
“It is the first time I have had to deal with an out-of-control train and I hope it is the last.”
Both pedestrians were taken to the North West Regional Hospital. The woman, in her 20s sustained cuts and abrasions to her head from fencing material and the man, in his 40s, had cuts and a suspected broken elbow.
The owner of the Harbour Master Cafe Leigh Murphy said his business was open and he was busy serving customers when the derailment occurred.
“We heard this loud rumbling noise and thought it was an excavator coming off the Spirit of Tasmania on the other side of the river, Mr Murphy said.
“Then we saw clouds of cement dust and a couple of people on the ground.
“I understand the train had been out of control since Railton.
““We have had to close because our water has been cut. The cranes are coming to move the train but it will need to stay there till investigators have finished their work so we could be out of water for some time.”
TasRail and the National Transport Authority will now investigate the cause of the incident.
EARLIER: A cafe owner has told of a loud rumbling noise as an out-of-control freight train derailed outside his Devonport business today.
Leigh Murphy, owner of the Harbour Master Cafe, said he was open and serving customers when the derailment occurred about 300m from his business.
“We heard this loud rumbling noise and thought it was an excavator coming off the spirit of Tasmania on the other side of the river,” Mr Murphy said.
“Then we saw clouds of cement dust and saw a couple of people underneath.”
“I understand the train had been out of control since Railton where it picked up cement from Goliath.
“We have had to close because our water has been cut. The cranes are coming to move the train but it will need to stay there till investigators have finished their work.
It is lucky the derailment did not happen tomorrow when there is a running race coming through this area.”
Two pedestrians were injured in the train crash.
Police and emergency services are on the scene to the automated freight train derailment, which happened in Devonport about 9am.
The crash occurred on Formby Rd, opposite the Post Office.
Formby Rd remains closed between Steele and Best streets and people are being urged to avoid the area.
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