InsertDerailment document of freight title train 7AD1 LocationEdith River | Date near Katherine, Northern Territory | 27 December 2011 ATSB Transport Safety Report Investigation [InsertRail Occurrence Mode] Occurrence Investigation Investigation XX-YYYY-####RO-2011-019 Final ATSB TRANSPORT SAFETY REPORT Rail Occurrence Investigation RO-2011-019 Final Derailment of freight train 7AD1at Edith River near Katherine, Northern Territory 27 December 2011 Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 - i - Report No. RO-2011-019 Publication date 19 September 2012 ISBN 978-1-74251-284-6 Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 Publishing information Published by: Australian Transport Safety Bureau Postal address: PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608 Office: 62 Northbourne Avenue Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 Telephone: 1800 020 616, from overseas +61 2 6257 4150 Accident and incident notification: 1800 011 034 (24 hours) Facsimile: 02 6247 3117, from overseas +61 2 6247 3117 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.atsb.gov.au © Commonwealth of Australia 2012 Ownership of intellectual property rights in this publication Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights, if any) in this publication is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (referred to below as the Commonwealth). 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TSB TRANSPORT SAFETY REPORT - ii - SAFETY SUMMARY What happened At approximately 0542 (CST) on 27 December 2011, freight train 7AD1, owned and operated by Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA), derailed at the Edith River rail bridge near Katherine in the Northern Territory. GWA was also the owner and operator of the rail track. The train driver was unhurt as a result of the derailment, but the co-driver suffered back injuries and there was significant damage to the bridge and rolling stock. A number of wagons including the crew van, which was unoccupied at the time, derailed into the Edith River. What the ATSB found The ATSB determined that the derailment of train 7AD1 was caused by the wash- away of the south-eastern embankment, associated sub-grade and ballast on the approach side of the Edith River rail bridge. The magnitude of the wash-away meant that the track could not support the weight of train 7AD1 as it passed over the affected track. The track collapsed under the train, initiating the derailment. The wash-away was the result of a severe flood event caused by torrential rains that fell within the Edith River catchment area in the aftermath of cyclone ‘Grant’. What has been done as a result As a result of the derailment at the Edith River rail bridge, on 27 December 2011, GWA has undertaken a range of actions to enhance its policies, procedures and employee training with respect to managing the risks associated with severe weather events. GWA will also enhance its systems for alerting staff to severe weather events, including flood risks. Safety message It is essential that rail network operators have robust systems in place to monitor and mitigate the risks of severe weather events to ensure that the safety of railway operations is not compromised. - iii - CONTENTS SAFETY SUMMARY ........................................................................................... iii THE AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU ................................. vi TERMINOLOGY USED IN THIS REPORT .................................................... vii 1 FACTUAL INFORMATION ........................................................................ 1 1.1 Overview .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Location ................................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 Adelaide to Darwin railway line ................................................ 2 1.2.2 Train information ....................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Weather ...................................................................................... 4 1.3 The occurrence ..................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Post occurrence .......................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Track rectification and clean up ................................................. 7 2 ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Sequence of events analysis ............................................................... 10 2.1.2 Examination of track ................................................................ 16 2.2 Edith River rail bridge ........................................................................ 19 2.3 Organisation – safety management system ......................................... 24 2.3.1 Extreme Weather Event Monitoring and Response Procedure (FL-PRO-06-010) ................................................... 24 2.3.2 Cyclone Response Plan (RS-PRC-017) ................................... 26 2.3.3 Employee training - severe weather events ............................. 27 3 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Context ............................................................................................... 29 3.2 Contributing safety factors ................................................................. 29 3.3 Other key findings .............................................................................. 30 4 SAFETY ACTION ........................................................................................ 31 4.1 Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd ............................................. 31 4.1.1 Policies, procedures and training ............................................. 31 4.1.2 Monitoring of severe weather and flood events ....................... 32 - iv - APPENDIX A : SOURCES AND SUBMISSIONS ............................................ 33 APPENDIX B : CYCLONE CHECKLIST ........................................................ 35 - v - THE AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory agency. The Bureau is governed by a Commission and is entirely separate from transport regulators, policy makers and service providers. The ATSB’s function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport through excellence in: independent investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences; safety data recording, analysis and research; fostering safety awareness, knowledge and action. The ATSB is responsible for investigating accidents and other transport safety matters involving civil aviation, marine and rail operations in Australia that fall within Commonwealth jurisdiction, as well as participating in overseas investigations involving Australian registered aircraft and ships. A primary concern is the safety of commercial transport, with particular regard to fare-paying passenger operations. The ATSB performs its functions in accordance with the provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and Regulations and, where applicable, relevant international agreements. Purpose of safety investigations The object of a safety investigation is to identify and reduce safety-related risk. ATSB investigations determine and communicate the safety factors related to the transport safety matter being investigated. The terms the ATSB uses to refer to key safety and risk concepts are set out in the next section: Terminology Used in this Report. It is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or determine liability. At the same time, an investigation report must include factual material of sufficient weight to support the analysis and findings. At all times the ATSB endeavours to balance the use of material that could imply adverse comment with the need to properly explain what happened, and why, in a fair and unbiased manner. Developing safety action Central to the ATSB’s investigation of transport safety matters is the early identification of safety issues in the transport environment. The ATSB prefers to encourage the relevant organisation(s) to initiate proactive safety action that addresses safety issues. Nevertheless, the ATSB may use its power to make a formal safety recommendation either during or at the end of an investigation, depending on the level of risk associated with