A fully laden coal train crashed into the rear of a stationary train at Kooragang Island in 2020 because the network controller had not been advised that the second train was disabled, an investigation has found.
The incident occurred just after 5am on July 29 when a Pacific National coal train travelling at 16 kilometres per hour collided with the rear of a stationary One Rail Australia coal train at the Kooragang Coal Terminal.
The driver of the Pacific National train sustained minor injuries from the incident, which caused significant damage to rail infrastructure. The tracks remained closed for two days.
An Office of Transport Safety Investigation found that while the One Rail Australia train was unloading several penalty brake applications associated with a fault in its electronic pneumatic brake system had disabled the train, bringing it to a standstill.
The crew investigated the faults using a series of technical exercises, which caused the train's end of train light to be extinguished.
"This disablement of the One Rail Australia train constituted a condition affecting the network, but the crew did not report this to the Kooragang network controller as they were required to do," Chief Investigator Dr Natalie Pelham said.
"Subsequently, the Kooragang network controller set a signal for the Pacific National train to proceed with caution along the arrival road where the One Rail Australia train was stationary."
The terminal area where the accident occurred was poorly lit by artificial trackside lighting, and the absence of an end of train light at the rear of the stationary train reduced its visibility, the investigation found.
Since the collision Pacific National has informed its drivers to not exceed 8 kilometres per hour upon receiving a shunt proceed signal within the Kooragang terminal.
One Rail Australia has added programmed monitoring of end of train lights into its asset management plan, and circulated safety information to its drivers to remind them of the requirement to communicate all conditions affecting the network to network control.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation has provided clarification advice to rail operators on the operation of trains with defective end of train lights.
It also plans to review the Kooragang Operations Protocol and conduct a risk assessment to ensure the risk of collision is effectively managed and controlled during operations.
"This accident highlights the importance of train crews communicating conditions affecting the network to network control," Dr Pelham said.
"It also emphasises the need for train crews operating in areas of restricted visibility to be prepared to stop short of any obstruction on the track."
