The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has opened an investigation into the derailment of a Pacific National train on Australia’s east-west railway 170 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
PN train 7MP7 derailed at around 10:45am (local time) at Coonana, causing significant damage to track and rolling stock.
No injuries were reported.
Coonana is in south-central WA, roughly 800 kilometres from Perth. It is on the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Kalgoorlie-Cootamundra corridor, the nation’s major east-west rail route.
The ATSB is reporting two locomotives and three wagons – including the crew van – were derailed from the train as it was passing over the eastern points at Coonana.
The Bureau will investigate the scene, interview the train’s crew, and examine train logs, signalling logs and voice recordings, as part of its investigation.
It will also examine operational procedures and gather additional information, before delivering a final report.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify those affected and seek safety action to address the issue,” the Bureau added.