Coal train derails weeks after runaway train incident
Another coal train run by haulage operator Pacific National is being investigated in New South Wales just weeks after a runaway train incident involving the same operator.
Less than two weeks after a runaway train incident on the same railway line, another Pacific National coal train derailed in the NSW Upper Hunter. The lead wheel of the locomotive detached, causing a shutdown on the track connecting Upper Hunter to Tamworth. Rail safety investigators will inspect the scene. The incident occurred at the Ardglen Loop, a section of railway between the Upper Hunter and Tamworth.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) was informed of the derailment just before noon. No injuries were reported among the train crew. The train has been stabilized, and ARTC teams are attending to the situation. The site has been secured pending the arrival of investigators from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
This incident follows a recent incident where an unmanned Pacific National train traveled at speeds exceeding 90km/h over a 20km stretch without a driver on July 25. The train eventually halted after rolling back 5km. ONRSR recently updated its guidelines on reporting requirements for rail transport operators, defining a notifiable occurrence as any accident or incident related to railway operations that must be reported to ONRSR.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
