2150 The train manager announced "There is a problem with the train and
it can go no further. We will advise you what will happen when we get
more information".
2210 Passengers are advised that they can get complementary drinks of tea
of coffee from the buffet.
By these stage lots of men have appeared in orange safety jackets and
stand around looking and talking. Passengers are amusing themselves
counting how many collective minds are at work.
2240 Passengers are advised that the train is derailed and that "we are
awaiting advice from head office."
The orange jacketed ones have become an army. Lots of men march up and
down the corridor. The second attendant is heard to mutter "too many
cooks". Passengers are getting snakey about lack of information on what
is to happen.
2310 A woman in green jumper arrives and appears to assume some sort of
authority.
2315 The woman announces that she is the Countrylink PR manager. She
advises that the second car has derailed and the train cannot continue.
Shen then announces a procedure whereby a CityRail train will be brought
alongside the Xplorer and passengers will be transferred across a ramp.
The train will take us to Strathfield, from where another train will take
us back to Central. Countrylink will pay for taxi charges if passengers
wish to take taxi from Strathfield and cabcharges will be made available
at Central.
2327 A CityRail V-set pulls up alongside the leading Xplorer car and
transfer of passengers commences. About 20 police have joined the army of
orange jacketed ones.
2337 Loading of 137 passengers and luggage completed. An announcement is
made that this is a Mt Victoria train which will take Xplorer passengers
to Strathfield.
2342 The V-set pulls alongside a Tangara stranded behind the Xplorer and
its passengers are also transferred.
2350 Arrive platform 3 at Strathfield. Another V-set is waiting on
platform 4.
2355 Depart Strathfield. At stop is made at Redfern for Tangara
passengers.
0006 Arrive Central No. 1 platform.
Derailments are not everyday events and a trainload of passengers
stranded in the middle of Sydney's busiest mainline is obviously a
problem. With a few exceptions, passengers accepted their fate in good
humour. There are a few, however, a few obvious lessons:
Advice to passengers by train crew was inadequate and far too slow;
The army of men who began appearing about 20 minutes of so after the
derailment made no obviouls contribution to the process of fixing the
problem;
It took a woman to sort things out and assume some authority. That was 90
minutes after the derailment.
Bob McKillop