A REPORT by the safety regulator into a massive train derailment south of Tamworth still hasn’t been released almost three years on from the incident.
The Pacific National coal train was en-route to Narrabri from Greta for loading when almost 20 wagons derailed at Kankool, near Willow Tree, before dawn on February 15, 2015.
Despite the third anniversary of the derailment – which a Senate Estimates hearing was told left a damage bill for the rail track administrator of $1 million – approaching, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Office of NSW Transport and Safety Investigations (OTSI) are yet to release its findings.
The investigation into the cause of the derailment is being led by OTSI and is being overseen by the ATSB, and initially anticipated to release the report at the end of 2015, before delaying it until May, 2016.
At that time it delayed the release until September, last year, while the report underwent a “peer view”, but more than 12 months later the report still hasn’t been made public.
Despite now indicating the report could be released this month, when contacted by The Leader, a spokesperson for the ATSB did not set a release date.
“The draft report has been finalised and is currently being updated following a review by directly involved parties,” the spokesperson confirmed.
“The involvement of directly involved parties is an important measure to ensure factual accuracy, and the validity and transparency of investigation processes.
“Investigations can be delayed by a range of factors – some of which are out of the transport safety investigator’s control.
“The most recent delays regarding this investigation have related to incorporating comments from directly involved parties and re-prioritisation of workload relating to a separate fatal rail accident.”
The empty coal train was headed north from the Hunter Valley to the Gunnedah basin on the main line, when 9 empty wagons derailed just after 5am.
On the morning of the derailment, the crew of the NB901 coal service contacted the Network Control Centre North at Broadmeadow, reporting their train had lost air and come to a stop.
The assistant driver went to investigate the loss of air and discovered the leading 19 wagons had derailed, causing severe damage to the train track.
The incident saw the line blocked for five days with passenger train services and coal trains suspended.
In 2015, a Senate Estimates hearing was told the preliminary damage bill for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) was around $1 million.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
