Clifton Hill train derailment investigation leaves key questions hanging

A key section of track was repaired just four days before a train derailed at Clifton Hill causing a network-crippling service outage.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau on Friday released a preliminary report into the derailment of the last city-bound Mernda train on Sunday, July 13.

A crane eventually removed the train carriage from the Mernda and Hurstbridge tracks a few days after the incident in July.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

It confirmed early theories that a bogie – a series of four wheels – on the train’s fifth carriage had derailed as it travelled over the High Street/Queens Parade.

But ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said further investigation was required to figure out exactly why.

“This will include further analysis of the condition of the rolling stock – focusing on the wheel and suspension components – and the track condition, including the recent maintenance and track replacement work that was undertaken in the days leading up to the derailment,” he said.

Hundreds of thousands commuters in Melbourne’s north-east were disrupted for more than a week after a carriage came off the tracks just south of Rushall station and then took days to move, crippling the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines.

The train carriage had been seriously damaged when it drifted from the line and hit a trackside stanchion (a rail pillar) before the train’s pantograph – an antenna-like structure – became entangled in overhead wires.

The new ATSB report confirmed the front-left wheel on the fifth carriage completed a “flange climb” over the rail as the train crossed the bridge in Clifton Hill.

Mitchell said 27 rail sleepers were replaced on a key track section four nights before the derailment, but would not be drawn on the suggestion that a fault in these repair works caused the incident.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Mitchell said. “I think we need to understand more before we can actually nominate what caused it.”

The ATSB preliminary report found the X’Trapolis train travelled around the bend toward Clifton Hill station at 28km/h – well below the 40km/h speed limit for that section of track.

Two drivers and about 30 passengers were aboard, but none were injured.

Commuters had to wait about three hours to disembark because derailment caused electrical arcing – a phenomenon where bolts of electricity dangerously flash through the air.

A photo shows the bogie twisted out from underneath the carriage.  Credit: Patrick Hatch

The two train drivers were not aware of the derailment until they heard the electrical arcing and saw the wires in front of them sag, the report said.

The drivers then slammed on the brakes and the train stopped after travelling about 120 metres “in a derailed state”.

Mitchell said a final report would be released in 12 to 18 months.

“I’m very conscious that this derailment inconvenienced tens of thousands of commuters for the better part of a week,” he said.

“It is important that we uncover not only what occurred, but more importantly, why this occurred and what can be implemented in the future to prevent a reoccurrence.”

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