>On Sunday morning of the 8th both ST1(Syd to Melb Night XPT) and ST2
>(Melb to Syd night XPT) were delayed considerably. A car carrier semi
>trailer failed to take the corner at the notorius Bells Rd crossing
>between Albury and Gerogery at around 10:00 to 10:30pm (Sat 7th) and
>rolled hitting the track and spilling its contents.
Not quite right!
It blocked the line and 2 cars that were on the top deck were thrown
off.
> At 4:30 the drver was
>informed that the track was clear but wouldn't be open untill 6:30am.
I was at the scene of the accident at 3:30. The truck was cleared from
the line at 4:10 but a section of rail (about 3 metres) was badly
twisted.
At 4:30 the S.R.A. gang advised that the line would not be avaiable
for 2hrs (6:30) at best.
>REMEMBER, ST1 HAD BEEN SITTNG AT CULCAIRN SINCE 3.30 AND ST2 AT ALBURY
>SINCE 11PM.
>
>At 7:15am the diver was told to proceed at towards gerogery and sit in
>the loop and wait for ST2 to cross. This was because the ST2
>passengers were getting very,very, very irate after sittng at albury
>for 8 hours! and was to calm them down. Both trains met at Gerogery at
>around 8am, exchanged food and drinks to the buffet of ST2 and then
>departed. ST2 was now 9 hours late and ST1 4 hours.
> ST1 then transhipped to 3 buses at Albury and proceeded to Melb.This
>was so the Melb to Syd daylight passengers could be bused to Albury,
>catch the train and only run about 30 mins late.
>
>Now what I, the drivers and crew of ST1 & 2 and around 300 people
>cannot work out is why ST2 wasn't bussed to Culcairn before 3:30, to
>hopp onto to the Xpt that was there and continue their trip and ST1
>catch the buses back to Albury and hopp onto that waiting train and
>only run about 1-2 hours late. Culcairn is a 30 min road trip to
>Albury and the road was clear about 12:30 to travel on.
>
>ST2 arrived Sydney around 9 hours late
>ST1 arrived Melb (via bus) at 12:30- 4 1/2 hours late
>Countrylink, please explain.
> Oh and I did my plane due to leave melb at 11:20am
>
The S.R.A. gang did the best they could, however Countrylink certainly
has some explaining to do.
You may ask , "Why was I there?"
I was running MB4, a National Rail train that was stabled at Albury
account no relief crew available. I travelled by taxi to Junee and was
delayed at the crossing while the car carrier was pulled off the
track.
Ron Howship
N.R.C Driver.