[WA] Zanthus collision 18 Aug

["Bill McNiven" <wmcniven@gunzel.ozemail.com.au>]

from http://www.news.com.au today ...

Train crash inquiry blames human error
By ANDREA MAYES of AAP
30oct99

Human error was responsible for an Indian-Pacific train crashing into a
stationary freight train and injuring 45 passengers, an independent
investigation into the accident has found.

The crash happened on August 18 this year when the Perth-bound
Indian-Pacific was accidentally diverted into a loop line at Zanthus, about
200km east of Kalgoorlie, where a freight train was standing.

Of those injured, 21 were flown to Kalgoorlie Hospital by the Royal Flying
Doctor Service for treatment.

Both locomotives and several Indian-Pacific carriages were badly damaged.

Director-General of WA's Transport Department Mike Harris said the
investigation had concluded that human error was responsible and that the
rail safety system had not been capable of rectifying the error.

He said the inquiry had found that a crew member aboard the freight train
had used a push-button control to set the main line points from normal to
reverse as the Indian-Pacific approached, diverting it into the loop.

"Normally, he should have waited until the other train had gone past, but it
was a reflex action, a split-second mistake," Mr Harris said.

"He realised immediately what he'd done and tried to reset the points, but
once you start an action the device locks itself in position and you can't
change it straight away."

Mr Harris said rail operators had already implemented many of the report's
recommendations to prevent the accident recurring.

These included fitting locks to the switch boxes and trialling time
interlock devices to prevent the points moving as soon as the switch is
operated, allowing an approaching train to stop if required.

"We've tried to come up with recommendations which will make it very
difficult for this sort of situation to happen again," Mr Harris said.

"We already have a very safe rail system, but these recommendations will
make it even safer."