The Australian Rail Track Corporation believes its North Coast railway line will be shut down for at least three days, after a truck driver allegedly hit a rail bridge near Dulbolla, causing severe damage which must be fixed.
A reckless truck driver is believed to have hit-and-run the rail overbridge at Running Creek Road near Dulbolla, south of Brisbane, just before 9.45am on October 4.
ARTC’s interstate general asset manager Brian Green said on October 5 the bridge would need to be repaired before passenger and freight trains could return to service.
“The careless action of the driver has caused significant damage to the bridge,” Green said, “and it is only thanks to a member of the community reporting the incident that we could ensure no trains ran over the rail line after the incident.
“Even worse is the truck driver has seemingly reversed and drove away from the incident site without reporting it, leaving the rail line and rail services, as well as motorists, exposed to potentially serious harm.”
Green urged residents and motorists who may have seen anything suspicious around the time of the incident to call Crimestoppers.
The ARTC shut down the line, which links Brisbane with Newcastle, for at least 72 hours from October 5.
Road diversions will also be in place during repair works.
“Alongside our own experts, we are currently mobilising structural engineers, plant, lights, cranes, steelworks and concrete contractors and other material and supplies to ensure we can return the track as safely and quickly as possible,” Green said.
NSW TrainLink said Sydney to Brisbane XPTs would be replaced by coaches from Casino, while Brisbane to Sydney passengers would be coached to Grafton, where they would board XPTs to Sydney.