[Melbourne, VIC] Three injured in V/line train derailment

[Aussie_Rail]

Found here at:The Age.com.au

Three injured in train derailment

September 13, 2009 - 7:53AM

Three people were lucky to escape serious injury when a V/Line train on the country Melbourne-Warrnambool line derailed last night.

The train, carrying between 70 and 100 passengers in its five carriages, hit a fallen pine tree which had blown across the track at the Cobden-Stoneyford Road level crossing, halfway between Colac and Camperdown.

The front two carriages, carrying just the driver, tipped on their side but the other three carriages remained upright.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said passengers were lucky to escape serious injury.

"Because of the winds a tree had blown onto the track," he said.

"We ended up treating three with minor injuries and they are going to local hospitals. They are very lucky."

It was unclear if the driver was one of the injured.

Police say the line will be closed for "some time".

V/Line said it would conduct an investigation into the incident, however, initial reports were that high winds were a contributing factor.

Services to and from Warrnambool would be disrupted and coaches would replace services until further notice, the company said in a statement.

Passengers are advised to allow an extra 40 minutes for their journey.

For more information, contact V/Line on 136 196 or see service details at www.vline.com.au

The whole Warrnambool line is pretty much single track, there was a set of points at Colac which meant they could run trains that far, but they ripped that up a year ago, great forward planning again by the incompetent Victorian Government.

There were apparently 2 N class locos hauling this service, which is not normally the case but they were planning to do level crossing tests with one of them shortly later.

Both locos and carriages are said to be fixable and will be returned to service in no time.
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Here are some pictures I found from the crash:

http://eddywhiterailpage.fotopic.net/c1755061.html

The loco on its side will be lifted by a crane and taken to the Newport rail work shops on the back of a truck and the other loco will be lifted back on to the rails and towed by rail.

Apparently they expect the line to reopen on Saturday.