VIC report and action on Ararat collision

["Gordon Macmillan" <gmac@melbpc.org.au>]

from
http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/newmedia.nsf/

DATE: Thursday, April 13, 2000


NEW STEPS TO IMPROVE RAIL SAFETY

A series of new safety measures will be introduced on Victoria's rail
network in response to the findings of an independent investigation into a
train collision at Ararat late last year, the Minister for Transport, Mr
Peter Batchelor, said today.

The independent inquiry by the Australian Transport Safety Board was
commissioned by Mr Batchelor shortly after the accident occurred, with the
objective of examining how it occurred and recommending preventive
strategies for the future.

Mr Batchelor said that the report indicated that while the accident was
triggered by the unsafe and unauthorised actions of a Freight Australia
employee, the accident had its origins in a number of organisational and
system deficiencies.

Mr Batchelor said he had directed the Office of the Director of Public
Transport to develop a detailed Rail Safety Action Plan in response to the
findings of the report.

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