❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a 2012 train derailment at a mine site in Pinjarra, seeking details of the investigation and responsibility. The Minister provides details of the investigation, findings, and relevant legislation.
AnsweredQoN 2719Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a train derailment on 24 December 2012 in Pinjarra, and I ask: (a) has an investigation into the incident taken place; (b) if yes to (a), who performed the investigation; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) what were the outcomes of the investigation; (e) will the Minister table a copy of the report and, if not, why not; and (f) as this rail incident occured at the entrance of a mine site, who is responsible for investigating the incident and why?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 March 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
23 days
(a) Yes, there was a derailment at the Alcoa private siding at Calcine on that day.
(b) A joint investigation was undertaken by Australia Western Railroad and Brookfield Rail.
(c) Not applicable
(d) The train operator was found to have made an error and departed the Calcine siding by passing through a control signal indicating a danger aspect (a red signal). In consequence the train derailed at the "catch points" which are designed to derail and stop rolling stock when unauthorised train movements or runaways occur.
(e) Rail safety investigation reports are not made public. If reports are to be made public, this could be detrimental to safety and the relationship between the independent regulator and operators.
(f) Under the
Rail Safety Act 2010
the Office of Rail Safety is responsible for regulating safety of railway operations and, under Section 83, the rail operators involved in a rail incident investigate and report to the Office of Rail Safety when required by the Rail Safety Regulator. The
Rail Safety Act
2010
also makes provision in Part 6 for the CEO or the Rail Safety Regulator to appoint an independent investigator in some circumstances to investigate and report on a rail safety matter. The incident at Calcine was undertaken by the rail operators following a notice issued under Section 83.
(b) A joint investigation was undertaken by Australia Western Railroad and Brookfield Rail.
(c) Not applicable
(d) The train operator was found to have made an error and departed the Calcine siding by passing through a control signal indicating a danger aspect (a red signal). In consequence the train derailed at the "catch points" which are designed to derail and stop rolling stock when unauthorised train movements or runaways occur.
(e) Rail safety investigation reports are not made public. If reports are to be made public, this could be detrimental to safety and the relationship between the independent regulator and operators.
(f) Under the
Rail Safety Act 2010
the Office of Rail Safety is responsible for regulating safety of railway operations and, under Section 83, the rail operators involved in a rail incident investigate and report to the Office of Rail Safety when required by the Rail Safety Regulator. The
Rail Safety Act
2010
also makes provision in Part 6 for the CEO or the Rail Safety Regulator to appoint an independent investigator in some circumstances to investigate and report on a rail safety matter. The incident at Calcine was undertaken by the rail operators following a notice issued under Section 83.
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