https://www.news.com.au/national/vic...e5f941c3fcc2fa
Alle McMahon
AAPFEBRUARY 20, 202010:33PM
Two people are dead and several others are injured after a train carrying 160 passengers derailed north of Melbourne in Victoria.
Two people have died and several others are injured after a Sydney-to-Melbourne train carrying passengers derailed in Victoria, leaving some commuters trapped.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the diesel locomotive and five carriages derailed near Wallan station, 45 kilometres north of Melbourne, on the North East line about 7:45pm on Thursday.
Emergency services are on the scene and the rail lines between Melbourne and Sydney have been closed.
Two people have died at the scene and a number of others are injured. Further information will be provided as soon as it is available, Victoria Police said in a statement.
At least three helicopters have been deployed to a scene the CFA described as very chaotic.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed 160 passengers were on-board the train and some had been injured.
Ambulance Victoria said one person had been airlifted to Melbourne, while four others were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Others had minor injuries, it said.
TRAIN RUNNING LATE
The train, which had left Central Station in Sydney at 7:40am, had been due to arrive at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne at 6:30pm.
It was running more than two hours late at the time of the crash.
All passengers who were able to walk from the train were taken to the Wallan McDonalds and BP Truckstore area, which was being used as a triage centre.
Photos posted on Twitter showed passengers standing next to the crumpled train with their luggage.
One passenger said tray tables went flying when the train suddenly slid into a fast stop. Picture: Twitter/@Jade & David for a Better Australia.
One passenger said tray tables went flying when the train suddenly slid into a fast stop. Picture: Twitter/@Jade & David for a Better Australia.Source:Supplied
One passenger described the chaos as the train suddenly slid into a fast stop.
Carriage at an angle stuff flying everywhere. Tray tables went flying, Dr Scott Rickard said on Twitter.
Stuff flew everywhere. Carriages crumpled at edges. We walked out. Most people able to walk out.
Were in a bit of shock, but OK. Drinking cuppas now.
Fortunately only a few people injured in our carriage, she added.
It is believed the two deceased were travelling in the drivers carriage.
DECADES LONG NEGLECT
Last week, the V/Line Seymour Line warned of long delays due to several faults at Wallan, including an ongoing rail equipment fault and track fault. Alerts from as far back as February 12 showed there was an issue.
Melbourne City councillor Rohan Leppert said it was the second derailment on the Albury line in three weeks.
The decades long neglect of this regional rail route is criminal, Cr Leppert said.
In January, a northbound freight train derailed near Wodonga in north-east Victoria. A V-Line Albury-to-Melbourne passenger train then collided with a wagon.
It is understood the ARTC is in charge of the rail maintenance, while the train was managed by Transport for NSW.
- With wires
- Two dead, several injured after train derails Wallan station in Victoria
- Two people are dead and several others are injured after a train carrying 160 passengers derailed north of Melbourne in Victoria.
Alle McMahon
AAPFEBRUARY 20, 202010:33PM
Two people are dead and several others are injured after a train carrying 160 passengers derailed north of Melbourne in Victoria.
Two people have died and several others are injured after a Sydney-to-Melbourne train carrying passengers derailed in Victoria, leaving some commuters trapped.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the diesel locomotive and five carriages derailed near Wallan station, 45 kilometres north of Melbourne, on the North East line about 7:45pm on Thursday.
Emergency services are on the scene and the rail lines between Melbourne and Sydney have been closed.
Two people have died at the scene and a number of others are injured. Further information will be provided as soon as it is available, Victoria Police said in a statement.
At least three helicopters have been deployed to a scene the CFA described as very chaotic.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed 160 passengers were on-board the train and some had been injured.
Ambulance Victoria said one person had been airlifted to Melbourne, while four others were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Others had minor injuries, it said.
TRAIN RUNNING LATE
The train, which had left Central Station in Sydney at 7:40am, had been due to arrive at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne at 6:30pm.
It was running more than two hours late at the time of the crash.
All passengers who were able to walk from the train were taken to the Wallan McDonalds and BP Truckstore area, which was being used as a triage centre.
Photos posted on Twitter showed passengers standing next to the crumpled train with their luggage.
One passenger said tray tables went flying when the train suddenly slid into a fast stop. Picture: Twitter/@Jade & David for a Better Australia.
One passenger said tray tables went flying when the train suddenly slid into a fast stop. Picture: Twitter/@Jade & David for a Better Australia.Source:Supplied
One passenger described the chaos as the train suddenly slid into a fast stop.
Carriage at an angle stuff flying everywhere. Tray tables went flying, Dr Scott Rickard said on Twitter.
Stuff flew everywhere. Carriages crumpled at edges. We walked out. Most people able to walk out.
Were in a bit of shock, but OK. Drinking cuppas now.
Fortunately only a few people injured in our carriage, she added.
It is believed the two deceased were travelling in the drivers carriage.
DECADES LONG NEGLECT
Last week, the V/Line Seymour Line warned of long delays due to several faults at Wallan, including an ongoing rail equipment fault and track fault. Alerts from as far back as February 12 showed there was an issue.
Melbourne City councillor Rohan Leppert said it was the second derailment on the Albury line in three weeks.
The decades long neglect of this regional rail route is criminal, Cr Leppert said.
In January, a northbound freight train derailed near Wodonga in north-east Victoria. A V-Line Albury-to-Melbourne passenger train then collided with a wagon.
It is understood the ARTC is in charge of the rail maintenance, while the train was managed by Transport for NSW.
- With wires