The ATSB is investigating a safe working breach at Ooldea, South Australia on 1 June 2023, involving Aurizon train 4PM1 and Pacific National train 3SP7.
At about 0835 central standard time, train 4PM1 enroute from Perth to Melbourne called the western points at Ooldea to reverse, in order to enter the crossing loop, in accordance with their authority from Fisher to Ooldea. At about the same time, train 3SP7 made a controlled stop on approach to Ooldea, due to the eastern points enhancer colour light displaying yellow, despite expecting a green light and having authority through that location to Fisher. This meant that there was an overlapping authority for the 84 km section of track from Ooldea to Fisher.
To date, the ATSB investigation has included:
- interviewing the network control officer
- examining available recorded data
- examination of safe working rules and procedures
- examination of training documents and records
- examination of incident notification data, held by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, from 2012 involving issuing of overlapping train authorities in the Australian Rail Track Corporation train order working territory between Tarcoola (South Australia) and Kalgoorlie (Western Australia).
In the course of the investigation, the ATSB has identified potential limitations in risk identification, risk controls, and network control officer training/assessment that potentially contributed to the occurrence. Examination of these factors represent a significant increase in the scope of this investigation, and it has been upgraded from Short to Defined as a result (the ATSB's different levels of investigation are detailed here).
The ATSB has completed the evidence collection and analysis phases of the investigation and is drafting the final report.
The final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.