Freight Train Derails in Regional Victoria

Freight Train Derails in Regional Victoria
A derailed train is seen near Inverleigh along the Hamilton Highway outside Geelong, Monday, November 14, 2022. Dozens of shipping containers were thrown from the tracks when a freight train derailed in Victoria's west. AAP Image/James Ross
AAP
By AAP
Updated:

Dozens of shipping containers have been strewn across tracks from a derailed freight train in Victoria’s west, closing the rail corridor to Adelaide.

The train derailed near Inverleigh along the Hamilton Highway outside Geelong at about 5.30 a.m. on Monday.

In a statement, the Australian Rail Track Corporation said there were no injuries to the train crew, and no dangerous goods containers were impacted.

The service derailed with containers displaced on both sides of the track and some within an adjoining paddock.

The corporation said the Melbourne-Adelaide rail corridor had been closed as a result, and affected customers were notified.

Rail and emergency response crews are on site.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has been notified, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has taken control of the site.

The bureau’s chief investigator for transport safety will conduct the inquiry.

“Investigators will survey the site and collect any relevant components for further examination and analysis,” bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement.

“They will also obtain and review any recorded data, weather information, witness reports, and relevant train and track operator records.”

Pictures from the scene show the containers piled on top of each other and the water beneath them, and the tracks.

Victoria Police said officers were called to the site on Monday morning to provide traffic control but were no longer needed.

Ambulance Victoria said it was not required to attend the scene.

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Australian Associated Press is an Australian news agency.
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