A freight train partially derailed on the East West railway line in South Australia on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the closure of a critical section of the national rail network. The incident, which occurred between Port Augusta and Port Pirie, did not cause any injuries but has significantly impacted transcontinental freight services. Recovery efforts are underway, with rail services anticipated to resume by Saturday evening.
Incident Details
The derailment occurred on the East West railway line, specifically between Mambray Creek and Winninowie, approximately 57 kilometers north of Port Pirie and 270 kilometers north of Adelaide. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene around 5:40 PM on Tuesday following reports of the incident.
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) and the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) confirmed that a Pacific National freight train was involved, with 11 wagons partially derailing. Initial assessments from the Country Fire Service (CFS) indicated approximately 80 percent of the freight train had derailed.
No injuries to the train's crew or any other individuals were reported. Country Fire Service crews attended the site to ensure the safety of the drivers and to verify the absence of hazardous material leaks. No hazardous material risk was identified.
Operational Impact and Service Disruptions
The derailment has rendered the affected section of the railway line inoperative, causing disruptions to all freight routes connecting major Australian cities, including Sydney to Perth, Melbourne to Perth, and Adelaide to Darwin. This section of track is integral to transcontinental rail traffic, impacting all trains that utilize it.
The ARTC, which operates and maintains the national rail network, anticipates that services will resume on Saturday evening, contingent on the progress of recovery operations and safety requirements. Journey Beyond, operator of the Indian Pacific passenger train, is monitoring the situation for potential impacts to its services and plans to advise guests of any disruptions.
An SA government spokesperson stated they are monitoring the situation but indicated it is unlikely to significantly impact the state's freight supply.
Response and Recovery Efforts
ARTC personnel are currently on site, collaborating with Pacific National to evaluate the damage and develop a plan for the safe recovery of the derailed wagons and subsequent track repairs. Pacific National is actively engaged in removing the derailed wagons, with the ARTC overseeing these recovery efforts.
The operations are taking place under high temperatures, with forecasts for nearby Port Augusta reaching up to 47 degrees Celsius. The public has been advised to avoid the derailment site during these operations.
Investigation
The National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has initiated an investigation into the cause of the derailment. Rail safety officers were deployed to the site on Wednesday morning to collect information and documentation from the rail transport operator. The ONRSR's inquiry aims to identify any breaches of Rail Safety National Law and address immediate safety concerns.
The cause of the derailment is currently under investigation. Jonathon Wilson, chief executive of the SA Freight Council, hypothesized that high temperatures might have been a contributing factor, noting that temperatures reached 41.5 degrees Celsius in Port Augusta and 40.3 degrees Celsius in Port Pirie at the time of the derailment.