The derailment of a freight train after it entered track that had been overtopped by floodwaters at Traveston in Queensland highlights the importance of serviceable environmental monitoring station equipment, an ATSB investigation final report highlights.
In the early hours of 23 February 2022, an Aurizon containerised freight service was travelling north on Queensland Rail's North Coast line when the train entered a washed-out section of track near Traveston, the investigation report details.
The train derailed and its two locomotives rolled over, while three wagons derailed but remained upright. The single driver sustained minor injuries but was able to exit the lead locomotive.
The accident occurred after a period of heavy rainfall and significant floodwater run-off in the region.
"Prior to the accident, floodwaters had risen above the track and scoured areas of the ballast and formation supporting it," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
"Due to the weather conditions and it being night, the driver's visibility of the track ahead was impeded. The driver sighted the scoured track area at a distance that was insufficient to stop the train before it entered the affected area and subsequently derailed."
The investigation found that an environmental monitoring station at Traveston had generated a critical flood alarm prior to the accident.
However, the required warning was not directly displayed at the relevant workstation at the Rail Management Centre, and email and text message alerts had not been correctly configured, with key personnel details left empty.
The investigation found the Queensland Rail alarm response procedure and automated messaging system used at the Rail Management Centre were ineffective in providing network operations staff timely notification of alarms from the environmental monitoring stations in the Glass House Mountains to Gympie North control area.
In addition, personnel located at the Fault Coordination Centre did not follow up with network control when the critical flood alarm was not acknowledged, because roles were not clearly defined, and the Fault Coordination personnel often dealt with multiple alarms at a time.
The investigation identified the operator's training program did not ensure personnel at the Rail Management Centre proactively monitored an adverse weather event or responded to reports and other information of a condition that could present a hazard to train movements. Subsequently, the network operations personnel relied on the clearance of a signal to determine the integrity of the track through a known flood-prone area.
Further, the investigation determined that the environmental monitoring station rainfall sensor and closed-circuit television camera were unserviceable at the time of the derailment.
Queensland Rail has subsequently implemented comprehensive systemic improvements addressing identified deficiencies in the investigation.
"In response to this accident and the ATSB investigation, the network operator has taken action aimed to improve alarm notification systems, training programs, equipment serviceability protocols, and operational procedures to manage adverse weather events," Mr Mitchell said.
The investigation also found that both the emergency exit pathway used by the driver to exit the overturned locomotive, and the emergency equipment available in the enclosed Aurizon 2800 class locomotives, were inadequate to enable a prompt escape by crew, and potentially limited access by emergency services in the event of a locomotive overturning.
In response, Aurizon has developed an access and egress compliance strategy to align its locomotive fleet to the relevant national rail standard, and is taking part in a development group reviewing the standard.
"This accident highlights the importance of having serviceable environmental monitoring station equipment, and for network operations personnel to be promptly and reliably alerted to any hazardous condition detected by the system," Mr Mitchell concluded.
"It also highlights the importance of equipping locomotive rollingstock with systems to mitigate evacuation hazards that rail traffic crew may encounter following the derailment and rollover of a locomotive.
"This is particularly so when operating driver only and in remote locations where assistance may not be readily available."
You can find here the final report: Derailment involving freight train Y279, near Traveston, Queensland, on 23 February 2022