Re: Concord West - Availability of Accident Report

["Hubert Lam" <hubert@imap4.com>]

How much was the actual damage (in dollars) done to the Tangara @ Concord
West?


Chris Downs <cvdowns@hermes.net.au> wrote in message
zXUo3.14$VE1.2596@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net">news:zXUo3.14$VE1.2596@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...
> Does anyone know:
>
> a)    Is the Concord West accident report publicly available?
>
> b)    If so, where can I lay my hands on a copy (preferably electronic)?
>
> I'm curious as to whether or not any consideration was given to the
> ambiguous nature of Green over Yellow indications.
>
> For those unfamiliar with NSW suburban signalling in the Concord West
area,
> on a straight line run (ie no turnouts) from an all clear signal to one at
> danger the consecutive signal aspects are:
>
> Green over Green
> Green over Yellow
> Green over Red
> Red over Red over Green (trip raised and lowers on a time release)
> Red over Red.
>
> When approaching a turnout the usual conseutive signal aspects from all
> clear are:
>
> Green over Green
> Green over Yellow
> Yellow over Yellow (turnout indication - also all clear).
>
> I appears that the situation at Concord West was/is:
>
> Green over Green
> Green over Yellow
> Green over Yellow (again, ie repeated))
> Yellow over Yellow.
>
> This is a fast section of track (115km/h for suburbans).  The signals are
> fairly close and the line curves to the left (when city bound as this
train
> was) on a 5,600m radius curve.  I don't know to what extent the approach
> signals are obscured or whether or not both green over yellows were
visible
> at any time.
>
> It'd be possible to think two consecutive green over yellows was a result
of
> gaining on a train ahead.  If the driver thought this then a fullish
service
> brake application (in a Tangara at least) would be achievable from
115km/h,
> after sighting a green over red, so as not to be tripped by the following
> red over red over green.
>
> If this were the situation the expected green over red would actually have
> been yellow over yellow.  Where the train could safely pass the green over
> red at 100km/h plus and be confident of not being tripped at the red over
> red over green, the 25km/h turnout immediately past the yellow over yellow
> would bring the train  unstuck.
>
> As an aside it appeared that the train in question actually survived the
> turn out at high speed.  It failed to cope with the reverse curve however.
>
> Anyway, any comments on accessing the report?
>
> TIA
>
> Chris
>
>