News video has shown the chaotic aftermath of the derailment of a runaway BHP iron ore train in WA’s Pilbara on Monday morning.
BHP’s control centre in Perth was forced to derail the loaded train at a set of points 119 kilometres from Port Hedland on November 5.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which has launched an investigation, the train consisted of 268 wagons and four locomotives.
The number of wagons and locomotives derailed in the incident is yet to be reported.
The train, loaded with iron ore from BHP’s Newman hub, had runaway 92 kilometres up the track from the derailment site.
The train’s driver had alighted to inspect an issue with an ore car near Hesta, 211 kilometres from Port Hedland.
While the driver was outside the locomotive, the train began moving.
The reason or reasons for the runaway have not yet been reported.
It is not clear how fast the train was moving when it was derailed, but based on the widely-reported figures of a 50-minute runaway journey, its average speed during that journey would have been around 110 kilometres an hour.
Footage released by the ABC shows the aftermath of the derailment, with dozens of wagons piled upon one another.
The ATSB’s early investigation notes say the train was M02712, operated by BHP on its Newman to Port Hedland railway.
Damage to the train is listed as “substantial,” but no injuries have been reported.
It is unclear how long or how severely BHP’s operations will or have been impacted by the incident.
A spokesperson for the company reportedly told the Financial Review the company was working with authorities but could not speak further on the issue with investigations underway.
WA premier Mark McGowan told the ABC he had been briefed and would consult about what role the state would have in any investigations.
“Obviously it would have been very concerning for everyone involved,” McGowan was quoted as saying, “that a train was travelling down the track without a driver and obviously out of control.”
The ATSB’s investigation is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2019.