At approximately 0832 on 26 October 2006 an Adelaide to Melbourne bound Pacific National freight train collided with an elevated platform vehicle containing a worker performing maintenance on the Separation Street overpass at North Geelong in Victoria. The worker was inside the elevated platform vehicle basket which was positioned underneath the overpass and directly above the rail line when it was struck by the train. The worker was seriously injured as a result of the collision.

At the time of the collision the North Geelong site was under the operational control of the North Geelong 'C' signalbox with site protection being provided by a qualified track protector.

The investigation found that a deviation from the formally documented and agreed safety plan, combined with a subsequent misinterpretation and the miscommunication of the relevant safeworking rules and procedures between operational staff, were the primary factors contributing to the collision.

Rail Recommendations

[RR20080021] [RR20080022] [RR20080023] [RR20080024] [RR20080025]