Level crossing warnings not being heard: Fullerton

A collision at a level crossing on the Adelaide to Darwin rail line last week was a sign of a widespread disregard for level crossing safety, FreightLink chief executive John Fullerton said. A southbound FreightLink train collided with the rear of a road train that had been crossing the tracks about 20 km south of Darwin on Friday. Investigations into the incident have begun, but Mr Fullerton told Lloyd’s List DCN that Friday’s incident was a sign that many are flouting the rules on rail crossings. The 1.5 km freight trains could not slow down in time to avoid colliding with vehicles whose drivers often tried to avoid having to wait at the stop signs. &#8220People continue to disregard warning devices at level crossings,&#8221 Mr Fullerton said. &#8220I think it is fortunate that there was no-one seriously injured.&#8221 Chief minister Claire Martin has acknowledged that drivers in the Northern Territory have a &#8220shocking and appalling&#8221 record on the road. A study released yesterday (Tuesday, October 24) shows that territorians are at greater risk of being killed in a road crash than people in the rest of the developed world. Road fatality figures in the territory are three times greater than elsewhere in Australia thanks to a culture that condones drink driving, high drug use and has low infringement penalties. Mr Fullerton said he was also aware of several near misses involving The Ghan on Saturday where car drivers ignored warning lights at three level crossings near Alice Springs. There is growing concern among train drivers that there could be a repeat of a fatal crash in May involving a B-double and a freight train near Lismore in Victoria. That incident saw a B-double hit the side of a Pacific National train at a level crossing 170 km south-west of Melbourne, killing the truck driver, derailing two locomotives and 44 wagons. The accident on Friday derailed one locomotive and damaged up to 600 metres of track. The two train drivers sustained minor injuries. The truck driver, who was not injured, told news sources that he could not speed up in time to avoid his second trailer being hit. There are stop signs at the crossing, about 100 metres south of Elizabeth River Bridge. Work to replace up to 800 sleepers will take about two months, with speed restrictions to be in place until then. It was the second collision along the Adelaide-Darwin line last week after a FreightLink train hit a herd of camels last Tuesday, damaging its brake system. Mr Fullerton said that both incidents had delayed the trains by 24 hours, but services had now returned to normal. FreightLink had not suffered any delays in its scheduling for the last two-months.

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