The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has opened an investigation into a signal passed at danger (SPAD) event by a V/Line train at Marshall in Geelong, Victoria, at the beginning of the year.
The empty passenger train was travelling to Geelong from Waurn Ponds during the afternoon of 2 January when it passed two stop signals at Marshall.
The train then entered, without authorisation, the single line between Marshall and South Geelong, upon which another V/Line passenger train was travelling, but in the opposite direction.
The trains were halted only 300 metres away from each other along the stretch of track. No injuries or damages were incurred during the incident.
Transport Safety, the Victorian Chief Investigator responsible for safety-related incidents involving rail transport, will conduct the investigation on behalf of the ATSB under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.