Big three rail lines shutdown in 24 hours

<p>Three of Australia’s busiest rail routes were blocked this morning (Friday, November 3) after two separate freight train derailments in southern New South Wales and inland South Australia.</p> <p>The rail line between Sydney and Melbourne was due to re-open early this afternoon after a collision between a freight train and a truck blocked the track at 10 pm yesterday.</p> <p>The collision, northeast of Wagga Wagga, occurred when the train hit an overturned truck at a level crossing.</p> <p>The truck driver suffered only minor injuries when his truck overturned, but managed to free himself before the train collided with his rig.</p> <p>Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) chief executive David Marchant said services had been affected.</p> <p>&#8220The train accident took place at 10 last night and we’re opening at 12:30, so I would expect there to be a lot of delays,&#8221 Mr Marchant said.</p> <p>In an earlier accident on the Adelaide-Darwin line, a southbound Freightlink train derailed near Tarcoola, 700 km north of Adelaide, on Wednesday night.</p> <p>The derailment of eight wagons shut both the east-west and the Adelaide-Darwin line, causing extensive delays to freight and passenger services.</p> <p>Mr Marchant said the lines might not be open until Sunday, with the repair bill for about 1 km of damaged track expected to be &#8220several million dollars&#8221. </p> <p>Wet weather and muddy conditions in the area had made it difficult to move equipment to the derailment site, he said.</p> <p>&#8220I was hoping it would be 48 hours but we’re actually saying Sunday,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>The incident has left about 100 passengers from <em>The Ghan</em> stranded in Alice Springs and other services delayed or cancelled. </p> <p>Great Southern Railway said it had made alternative arrangements for affected passengers. </p> <p>It was the third incident to occur on the track in 15 days, after two separate accidents involving a herd of camels and a road train each caused 24 hour delays last month.</p> <p>The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) is investigating the derailment.</p> <br />