Freight train derailment north of Benalla

<p>The rail line between Benalla and Glenrowan in northeast Victoria would be closed for a least 24 hours after the derailment of a freight train last night caused considerable track damage, the Australian Rail Track Corporation said (ARTC).</p> <p>At 8.50 pm, 12 rear wagons of an 800-metre Pacific National freight train derailed at Winton, near Benalla. Nine of those wagons were on their side, on the east side of the standard gauge line.</p> <p>The ARTC confirmed this morning that 1,000 metres of track had been damaged, with rail and sleepers affected.</p> <p>&#8220The standard gauge rail has been twisted and is fouling the broad gauge track along with some of the derailed wagons,&#8221 the ARTC said in a statement.</p> <p>An ARTC spokesman said the rail line would be closed for at least a day, if not longer, but could not confirm for exactly how long because no recovery could take place until investigations were completed.</p> <p>ARTC management and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were this morning on site.</p> <p>The ARTC would also complete an investigation into how the derailment occurred.</p> <br />