International Railroad Discussion > Ran across this surfing this morning of a derailment in Australia

This was in or Near Melbourne with two soles lost. in a passenger train derailment. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/melbourne-train-derailment-two-dead-after-train-comes-off-tracks/ar-BB10bU2c?ocid=spartandhp

News down here speculating that they were trying to make up time ,after several lengthy delays earlier in the journey.But of course,media are not always the best place to source facts.
This service passes through my town early afternoon each day.
Regards,dK

DKay, is there sharp curve behind the photographer?
If not.......

Dave

DaveL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DKay, is there sharp curve behind the
> photographer?
> If not.......
>
> Dave
Curve ,yes, but not to sharp.Apparently there have been issues with this stretch of line for some weeks now.I did hear mention this morning that Victorian crews had refused to drive this section ,hence the driver from New South Wales,and the Victorian pilot.I have not heard them repeat this since early this morning.
DK

Any issues with Sun kinks?
 

It looks like the problem may be going too fast into a siding.....

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/v-line-drivers-avoided-track-section-where-deadly-wallan-train-derailment-occurred-20200221-p542xw.html

Interestingly, this is an area where standard gauge tracks are paralleled by two broad gauge tracks, all which are in active use.

--j

So from the article it sounds like there was a signal suspension after a fire in a signal hut, and the train was diverted from the 62 mph main to a 9 mph siding.  The engineer had a pilot as a result of the signal problems, but the may not have received notice that they would be using the siding.  The line has had maintenance issues ever since a poorly done conversion from broad to standard gauge about a decade ago.

Wasn't there a similar controversy about bad track conditions last year after the gauge conversion of some grain lines in northwest Victoria?  Way over budget, service is now slower than before, and completion of the rest of the project uncertain?  Contractor fired?


The business case noted that V/Line had a self-imposed speed limit of 15km/h on the 82-kilometre stretch between Broadmeadows and Seymour, which includes Wallan, due to "poor track quality" such as mud holes and tight rail alignments.

Is that accurate?  If so, wow.  For those unaware, V/Line runs a separate regional/commuter double track broad gauge line parallel to the standard gauge national line that this derailed train was running on.  I know Victoria is in the process of major improvements to most of their regional lines serving Melbourne, and even before that there have been some really impressive improvements and a completely new line (Melbourne-Geelong via Wyndham Vale.)  So it is hard to believe such a long segment would be allowed to deteriorate that much, V/Line runs 21 Seymour-Melbourne round trips through Wallan on weekdays.
 



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/20 09:37 by darkcloud.