Rail bridge collapses
A FREIGHT train that derailed between Longreach to Ilfracombe last Wednesday evening has raised serious questions about the competency of Queensland Rail (QR) safety checks.
Although QR are not directly attributing the derailment to the buckled and collapsed bridge clearly visible from the adjacent Landsborough highway, QR did emphasise that safety audits were conducted regularly along the Longreach line.
"QR is currently conducting an investigation into the derailment," the general manager for QR network access, Mike Carter, said.
"There can be many different contributing factors to these types of incidents that the investigation will analyse."
When asked to elaborate on the "contributing factors" a QR spokesperson said they were too numerous to mention and that it would be inappropriate to speculate while investigations were still continuing.
"QR can confirm that bridges in the Longreach district are checked annually," Mr Carter continued.
"The most recent audit of all bridges, including the one where the derailment occurred, took place in June, 2006.
"This audit found that all bridges in the district complied with the necessary engineering standards.
"The bridge damaged in the derailment has since been repaired and is safe for traffic."
In response to the notion that white ant desecration had weakened the old wooden bridge, the QR spokesperson was quick to state that no problems were detected with the bridge in June, and if white ants are found in any structures that QR takes rapid measures ensuring they are treated.
When questioned further about what generally was the cause of said "incidents", the spokesperson reiterated that it would be inappropriate to speculate.
On its way to Rockhampton along the central line, the train laden with general freight lost seven of its wagons at the bridge site last Wednesday evening at 6.40pm.
Seven wagons left the tracks and tipped onto their sides. No injuries resulted.
Less than one hour prior to the incident the Spirit of the Outback passenger train travelled along the same line, on-route from Rockhampton to Longreach.
On board were 100 children from the Gold Coast taking part in the Beach to Bush program, along with holiday-makers taking advantage of the school break.
QR failed to respond to whether the "incident" could have occurred with a passenger train.
The derailment and the damage caused on the tracks left many people stranded at the Longreach Railway Station on Thursday morning, with the Spirit of The Outback unable to travel along its usual route.
Travellers were transported by a fleet of Emerald coaches to their destinations.
Many tourists were bemused as to why they had to travel the entire journey by bus.
"We have been told that because of the school holidays they are unable to get another train into Ilfracombe or Barcaldine or anywhere else to pick us up," one holiday-maker said.
"Instead we have to go all the way to Brisbane on a bus – not much fun."
The damage caused to the track halfway between Longreach and Ilfracombe took just two-days to repair, with services briskly resumed on Monday.
QR is "unable to speculate" how long the investigations would take to complete, however ensured that the investigations would look at "all variables and would combine local people and knowledge with information collected by investigators out of Rockhampton and Brisbane".
Although QR are not directly attributing the derailment to the buckled and collapsed bridge clearly visible from the adjacent Landsborough highway, QR did emphasise that safety audits were conducted regularly along the Longreach line.
"QR is currently conducting an investigation into the derailment," the general manager for QR network access, Mike Carter, said.
"There can be many different contributing factors to these types of incidents that the investigation will analyse."
When asked to elaborate on the "contributing factors" a QR spokesperson said they were too numerous to mention and that it would be inappropriate to speculate while investigations were still continuing.
"QR can confirm that bridges in the Longreach district are checked annually," Mr Carter continued.
"The most recent audit of all bridges, including the one where the derailment occurred, took place in June, 2006.
"This audit found that all bridges in the district complied with the necessary engineering standards.
"The bridge damaged in the derailment has since been repaired and is safe for traffic."
In response to the notion that white ant desecration had weakened the old wooden bridge, the QR spokesperson was quick to state that no problems were detected with the bridge in June, and if white ants are found in any structures that QR takes rapid measures ensuring they are treated.
When questioned further about what generally was the cause of said "incidents", the spokesperson reiterated that it would be inappropriate to speculate.
On its way to Rockhampton along the central line, the train laden with general freight lost seven of its wagons at the bridge site last Wednesday evening at 6.40pm.
Seven wagons left the tracks and tipped onto their sides. No injuries resulted.
Less than one hour prior to the incident the Spirit of the Outback passenger train travelled along the same line, on-route from Rockhampton to Longreach.
On board were 100 children from the Gold Coast taking part in the Beach to Bush program, along with holiday-makers taking advantage of the school break.
QR failed to respond to whether the "incident" could have occurred with a passenger train.
The derailment and the damage caused on the tracks left many people stranded at the Longreach Railway Station on Thursday morning, with the Spirit of The Outback unable to travel along its usual route.
Travellers were transported by a fleet of Emerald coaches to their destinations.
Many tourists were bemused as to why they had to travel the entire journey by bus.
"We have been told that because of the school holidays they are unable to get another train into Ilfracombe or Barcaldine or anywhere else to pick us up," one holiday-maker said.
"Instead we have to go all the way to Brisbane on a bus – not much fun."
The damage caused to the track halfway between Longreach and Ilfracombe took just two-days to repair, with services briskly resumed on Monday.
QR is "unable to speculate" how long the investigations would take to complete, however ensured that the investigations would look at "all variables and would combine local people and knowledge with information collected by investigators out of Rockhampton and Brisbane".
posted by dr mcgillicudy's cudsong at 11:09 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home