At about 1932¹ on 30 March 2008, freight train 1MA6Q, travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide, derailed on the Mt Emu Creek bridge near Pura Pura, Victoria. Twenty-one wagons derailed, coming to rest on the track past the bridge abutment. As a result of the derailment, some containers burst spilling their contents onto the rail corridor and the adjacent public road.

The investigation determined that the derailment occurred as a result of a failed rail due to fatigue cracking emanating from an unused bolt-hole.

Rail safety recommendations

[ RO-2008-004-SR-011] [ RO-2008-004-SR-012]

1. The 24-hour clock is used in this report to describe the local time of day, Eastern Daylight Tme (EDT), as particular events occurred.

Safety Actions for this investigation