Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation

Safety bureau to probe Geelong level crossing failure

Safety experts will investigate why boom gates failed to lower when the Overland passenger service passed through a level crossing in North Geelong earlier this month.

According to an early report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the crew of the Overland passenger service running from Melbourne to Adelaide saw multiple vehicles in the vicinity of the Thompson Road crossing when the train passed through just before 11am on January 8.

“The Thompson Road level crossing provides for dual-lane road traffic to traverse dual-gauge and broad-gauge railway lines,” the ATSB said.

“At the time of the occurrence, planned infrastructure work involving the level crossing’s equipment was being performed.”

The Bureau says its investigators will now collect relevant evidence, including recorded data and interviews with parties directly involved in the incident.

A final report is expected in the first quarter of 2020.