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Train Derailment 230k South of Darwin

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      Zodiac Junior Train Controller

    Location: The Never Never
    G&W might not want it known, but the cats out of the bag now.........

    http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/train-derails-but-company-keeps-quiet/story-fnk2tq5v-1226792585603

    A TRAIN has derailed near Pine Creek – but the company that own the railway is trying to keep it secret.    
    The NT News has confirmed the derailment – believed to be a freight train - happened about 230km south of Darwin late yesterday.
    The extent of the crash and damage is unknown – but it is believed there are no injuries.
    However, rail line owner Genesee and Wyoming Australia has gone to ground.
    The NT News has called all 10 phone numbers listed on the Genesee and Wyoming Australia website several times. We have also called the media mobile number.
    So far, only one person has answered the phone - and he said he didn't know anything.
    NT Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment director of corporate communications Cassandra Buckley said she was unable to comment because the railway is run by a “private provider”.
    “You will need to contact the media people at Genesee and Wyoming Australia.,” she said.
    The Ghan passenger train has been forced to stop because of the incident, with passengers travelling to Darwin on buses for the remainder of the journey.
    In December 2011, a Genesee and Wyoming train derailed and spilt about 1200 tonnes of toxic copper concentrate into the Edith River, north of Katherine.
    The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is aware of the latest derailment.



    The Genesee and Wyoming freight train derailed at the Edith River Crossing in 2011. Picture: MICHAEL FRANCHI Source: NT News
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 16:12

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      michaelgreenhill Administrator That's Numberwang!

    Location: Melbourne
    Let's assume that what little office admin staff are left on deck currently are busy trying to deal with the derailment, hence why none of NT News' inquiries have gone unanswered - that's a little more plausible than the tinfoil-hat theory that they simply don't want people to know, in my opinion Smile
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 16:33
      fzr560 Chief Train Controller

    Let's assume that what little office admin staff are left on deck currently are busy trying to deal with the derailment, hence why none of NT News' inquiries have gone unanswered - that's a little more plausible than the tinfoil-hat theory that they simply don't want people to know, in my opinion Smile
    michaelgreenhill
    Given the "Security" that was harassing observers following the Edith River derailment, it might not be a "tinfoil-hat theory", whatever that is.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 16:43
      MD Chief Commissioner

    Location: Canbera
    The railway line is a privately owned and operated line.
    If there are no injuries to the public , the Company doesnt have to tell anyone anything.
    Why the Media think that they have some god given right to demand answers to their questions is beyond me.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 20:52
      seb2351 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Sydney
    What kind of product would be transported in those tubs?
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 20:59
      fzr560 Chief Train Controller

    The railway line is a privately owned and operated line.
    If there are no injuries to the public , the Company doesnt have to tell anyone anything.
    Why the Media think that they have some god given right to demand answers to their questions is beyond me.
    MD
    The media shouldn't ask questions? Well injuries to the public probably aren't in the public interest either so why that exception? I don't remember any injuries to the public in the Edith River derailment, just some really bad stuff ended up in one of our rivers. No public interest there. I guess that power company in Japan didn't have to tell anyone anything either. Carry on, nothin' to see here.....
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:08
      fzr560 Chief Train Controller

    What kind of product would be transported in those tubs?
    seb2351
    As per the Media story, copper concentrate. 'Pretty sure that the ATSB report covered the contents of the containers and their place of origin.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:24
      donttellmywife Chief Commissioner

    Location: Antofagasta
    The railway line is a privately owned and operated line.
    If there are no injuries to the public , the Company doesnt have to tell anyone anything.
    ...
    MD
    They may not have to tell reporters anything, but there is a range of "reportable" incidents that regulators etc (who fall into the category of "anyone") need to be informed of, regardless of injury to the public.  And it looks like they have been informed.

    But yes, anyone can ignore reporters.

    What kind of product would be transported in those tubs?
    "seb2351"


    Copper concentrate was.  But note that is a photo from the Edith River derailment from a few years back.

    The conspiracy theorists should ring the NT News at 5:00 am (on New Years day) and see if they can get comment about whether use of that photo might potentially mislead people about the severity of the incident.  If they don't get an immediate response from someone who's not half cut, then clearly the NT news is hiding something too.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:26
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    What kind of product would be transported in those tubs?
    "seb2351"


    As said above, Copper Concentrate, mined in SA exported through Darwin.
    Usually added to AD trains on the way north.
    The "tubs" (called Kibbles I think) were in the process of being replace at the time of the Edith River incident with a unit with a sealed lid.
    And yes, when mixed with water Copper Concentrate is toxic

    However as there seems little info as yet, we don't even know which service derailed*, how bad, or how much damage, etc etc it seems silly to speculate at this stage.

    *It wasn't the Ghan as it has been reported that passenger were bused around the incident.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:36

    Last edited by Pressman on 31 Dec 2013 21:39; edited 1 time in total
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    The NT News story linked to by Zodiac has been updated in the last 30 mins (yet the byline still shows it timed at 1:45pm )
    it now includes the following....
    Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Duty Officer Mike Walker confirmed that a derailment involving a Genesse and Wyoming Australia (GWA) freight train took place at Union Reef, about 200 km south of Darwin, at about 4pm on Monday.

    "A small number of vehicles (3) derailed (came off the rail line), and there were no injuries reported."

    Mr Walker said the derailment should not have a major impact on other trains travelling along the same route.

    "It will be cleared quickly because it happened at a crossing loop, along the track there are various loops, so passing traffic can still go through,'' he said.

    Mr Walker said ATSB and GWA would each conduct their own investigations into the incident.

    "But at this stage (ATSB) will not be attending the accident site,'' he said.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:46
      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    The railway line is a privately owned and operated line.
    If there are no injuries to the public , the Company doesnt have to tell anyone anything.
    Why the Media think that they have some god given right to demand answers to their questions is beyond me.
    MD

    Perhaps there are requirements on rail operators where incidents occur they must be reported.  There are also workcover considerations.
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 21:57
      mikado5910 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Kurri Kurri NSW
    The NT News story linked to by Zodiac has been updated in the last 30 mins (yet the byline still shows it timed at 1:45pm )
    it now includes the following....
    Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Duty Officer Mike Walker confirmed that a derailment involving a Genesse and Wyoming Australia (GWA) freight train took place at Union Reef, about 200 km south of Darwin, at about 4pm on Monday.

    "A small number of vehicles (3) derailed (came off the rail line), and there were no injuries reported."

    Mr Walker said the derailment should not have a major impact on other trains travelling along the same route.

    "It will be cleared quickly because it happened at a crossing loop, along the track there are various loops, so passing traffic can still go through,'' he said.

    Mr Walker said ATSB and GWA would each conduct their own investigations into the incident.

    "But at this stage (ATSB) will not be attending the accident site,'' he said.
    Pressman
    Location suggests it may be an ore train, either entering or leaving the loop. Time doesn't seem to correlate with AD1 or DA2. We'll see when the report is released, if they even investigate a minor incident such as this. Probably wouldn't have even got into the paper if it bad been on a non-Ghan day.
    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 12:55
      crisfitz Chief Commissioner

    Location: Enroute somewhere
    Perhaps there are requirements on rail operators where incidents occur they must be reported. There are also workcover considerations.
    bevans

    All Rail Regulations in Australia, whether they be state or federal, require operators to report Category A occurrences immediately on becoming aware of the occurrence, and Category B occurrences within 72 hours of becoming aware of the occurrence.

    For an example, see the NSW regulations, which are aligned with the National Regulations.

    http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rsnlnr2012425/s57.html

    The report is usually first made to the state or national regulator, then to the ATSB.
    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 16:10
      NG Sulzers Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Quorn
    Wasn't an ore train.
    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 20:48
      Top Cat Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Under Hilton Bridge
    Media looking for any news.....very poor indeed...more substantial and meaningful stories should be chased not just a simple "train derailment" incident....and to even link the bridge collapse and derailment a couple of years ago to some sort on incompetance by GWA is proposterous....what about the number of industrial and road truck incidents.....not that they need to be sensationalised either. Media - chase real news and not do what you're told or better still use your skills and talent to get the "real" story....8)
    Posted: 02 Jan 2014 22:06
      David Peters Dr Beeching

    Location: "With Hey Boy".
    Simple case of publish and be damned, or why let the facts get in the way of a good story.
    Posted: 03 Jan 2014 01:49
      X Class Locomotive Driver

    It makes a change to see the "NT News" report on something other than crocodiles!
    Posted: 04 Jan 2014 01:11
      Donald Chief Commissioner

    Location: Donald. Duck country.
    No photos on Railpage.     So the big question - Did it really happen?
    Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:15
      QSB6.7 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Going off the rails on a crazy train.
    It makes a change to see the "NT News" report on something other than crocodiles!
    X Class

    When I was in Darwin there was a saying for the N.T News, highlighting what they report on normally.

    Crocs, (insert derogatory word for Indigenous) and AJs.

    But there are some really funny stories that appear in the N.T News.
    Posted: 04 Jan 2014 11:57
      garethsh Junior Train Controller

    But there are some really funny stories that appear in the N.T News.
    QSB6.7

    As shown on the ABC Media Watch program.
    e.g. NT News has some bizarre human interest story on page 1 while some big story is happening in the rest of Australia/world. It is as if they are cut off from what is going on the rest of the world.
    Posted: 04 Jan 2014 14:32
      Zodiac Junior Train Controller

    Location: The Never Never
    ahhh The NT News, Yesterdays News Today !

    The front page is normally and not in any particular order, car crashes, crocodiles, bashings and drunks.

    Zodiac
    Posted: 06 Jan 2014 10:20
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    G&W might not want it known, but the cats out of the bag now.........
    Zodiac

    Are you suggesting they hadn't informed the ATSB?
    Posted: 06 Jan 2014 13:59
      Trainplanner Chief Commissioner

    Location: Along the Line
    I'm surprised that without getting into "over the top sensationalisation", that railpagers or anybody else for that matter would regard a derailment of a train that blocks a transcontinental transport artery as being newsworthy.   It certainly is.  The real issue is how the media then goes onto sensationalise the story.   Even trucking accidents are reported.

    I am absolutely sure GWA would have fulfilled its regulatory obligations and reported the derailment to the regulator and other authorities.
    Posted: 06 Jan 2014 14:31
      Zodiac Junior Train Controller

    Location: The Never Never
    Are you suggesting they hadn't informed the ATSB?
    bingley hall

    Not at all, just paraphrasing the NT New report.
    "A TRAIN has derailed near Pine Creek – but the company that own the railway is trying to keep it secret.  "
    Posted: 06 Jan 2014 17:28

    Last edited by Zodiac on 06 Jan 2014 17:29; edited 1 time in total
      seb2351 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Sydney
    ahhh The NT News, Yesterdays News Today !

    The front page is normally and not in any particular order, car crashes, crocodiles, bashings and drunks.

    Zodiac
    Zodiac

    As a tangent, and completely unrelated to the topic of derailments: Even big name papers have slow news days. Take a gander at the level of detail into this amusing report

    http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/naked-man-stuck-in-washing-machine-20140106-30d8b.html
    Posted: 06 Jan 2014 18:13

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