Rail safety investigations & reports
Collision of grain train 3234 with grain train 8922 at Yass Junction, NSW on 9 December 2010
RO-2010-013

Summary
At about 0153 on 9 December 2010 an Up (northbound) loaded grain train travelling from Barellan, New South Wales (NSW) to Maldon, NSW and numbered as 3234N, collided at low speed with the rear of another Up (northbound) loaded grain train, numbered as 8922N, on the Down Main line at Yass Junction, NSW. The intended operation had been for both trains to wait, one behind the other, on the Down Main line at Yass Junction to enable a third northbound goods train, 4MB2, to pass them both on the adjacent Up Main line.
Train 3234N proceeded as intended past a signal which indicated that the route was not clear and that the train should proceed at caution. Train 3234N braked as soon as train 8922N was sighted but a collision nevertheless ensued. The investigation highlighted that the definition of restricted speed applying in these sorts of cases requires considerable judgement on the part of train drivers.
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Preliminary
Preliminary report released 29 March 2011
At about 0153 on 9 December 2010 an Up (northbound)
loaded grain train travelling from Barellan, New South Wales (NSW)
to Maldon, NSW and numbered as 3234, collided at low speed with the
rear of another Up (northbound) loaded grain train, numbered as
8922, on the Down2 Main line at Yass Junction, NSW. The intended
operation had been for both trains to wait, one behind the other,
on the Down Main line at Yass Junction to enable a third northbound
goods train, 4MB2, to pass them both on the adjacent Up Main
line.
On 25 May 2011, the draft ATSB investigation report into the
incident was provided to directly involved parties for comment. The
directly involved parties were asked to provide a submission
addressing the report. All submissions will be considered before
the report is finalised for public release
Safety Issue
Restricted speed definition
The current ARTC definition of restricted speed requires considerable judgement on the part of train drivers.
Issue number: | RO-2010-013-SI-01 |
---|---|
Who it affects: | All track managers |
Status: | Not addressed |
General details
Date: | 09 December 2010 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | 0153 EDT | Investigation level: | Complex - click for an explanation of investigation levels | ||
Location (show map): | Yass Junction | ||||
State: | New South Wales | ||||
Release date: | 30 January 2012 | ||||
Report status: | Final | Occurrence category: | Accident | ||
Highest injury level: | None |
Train 1 details
Train registration | 3234 | |
---|---|---|
Type of operation | Bulk grain | |
Damage to train | Minor | |
Departure point | Barellan, NSW | |
Destination | Maldon, NSW |
Train 2 details
Train registration | 8922 | |
---|---|---|
Type of operation | Bulk grain | |
Damage to train | Nil | |
Departure point | Red Bend, NSW | |
Destination | Port Kembla, NSW |