Report finds runaway coal train reached 90km/h on 20km journey
An interim report has confirmed a runaway coal train reached speeds well in excess of the safe limit and rolled backwards for 5 kilometres before coming to a halt.
A runaway coal train journeyed 20 kilometres through the Hunter Valley on July 25, reaching speeds up to 90 kilometres per hour with no crew onboard, according to an interim probe by the Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI). The train, composed of three locomotives and 96 wagons, began its runaway at Newdell Junction, accelerating to dangerous speeds before rolling to a stop uphill near Camberwell Junction and then reverting its path for 5 kilometres, halting between Middle Folbrook Rd and Glennies Creek Rd level crossings.
The safe operating speed for coal trains is typically 60 kilometres per hour. The interim report indicates the train sustained damage to its rolling stock and inflicted minor damage on the track. OTSI's investigation will delve into various aspects, including locomotive and wagon specifications, braking systems, data loggers, CCTV footage, the train crew's actions, and organisational processes for handling brake faults.
The final report is slated for submission to NSW parliament for tabling. Pacific National, the coal haul operator, has confirmed its cooperation with investigators, emphasizing that safety is their utmost priority and expressing full cooperation with the regulator and relevant authorities to uncover the incident's cause and prevent future occurrences.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
