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1 Major Rail Incident Interim Report Serious Injury Collision Draper Street level crossing, Cairns 15 June 2015

2 Published by: Department of Transport and Main Roads Postal address: PO Box 673 Fortitude Valley Queensland 4006 Telephone: , from overseas Facsimile: , from overseas [email protected] Website: The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) 2015 Use of this material is limited according to agreed permissions and restrictions. This document is licensed under a Government Information Licensing Framework Restricted Licence. Please direct requests for further information or authorisation to: Principal Information Governance Advisor Department of Transport and Main Roads Incident Reference Publication date QT July 2015 DMS Reference: E18353-RSS 490/00340 Publication title Serious injury collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns, 15 June 2015 Interim Report Transport and Main Roads, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Interim Report 2

3 Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing, Cairns 15 June 2015 Major rail incident investigation Interim Report, incident reference: QT5128 Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 3 of 10

4 t Table of Contents 1. THE OCCURRENCE FACTUAL INFORMATION Location Level crossing/road interface Rail operator/rolling stock information Road operator/vehicle information Environmental Conditions INVESTIGATION... 9 Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June

5 1. THE OCCURRENCE The information contained in this interim report is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that it is possible that new evidence may become available throughout the course of the investigation that alters the circumstances as depicted in the interim report. Kuranda Scenic Railway (KSR) is a tourist train operating a return journey between Cairns and Kuranda using heritage railway carriages, providing two services daily. The railway first operated as a tourist train in KSR operates under the accreditation of Queensland Rail as part of the Queensland Rail travel group. About 4.07pm Monday 15 June 2015, KSR train service 4C61 was returning to the Portsmith Rail Complex after undertaking a return Cairns-Kuranda tourist revenue service. All passengers and Guest Services Attendants had disembarked at the Cairns Railway Station, with only the rail traffic crew remaining on-board. The distance from the Cairns Railway Station to the Portsmith Rail Complex is 2.43 km. Train 4C61 was travelling in a general south-westerly direction approaching the Draper Street level crossing. The Draper Street level crossing is an active level crossing, consisting of flashing lights activated by the approach of a train; the crossing does not have boom gates or audible devices installed. The passenger bus, travelling in a north-westerly direction on Draper Street was observed to stop at the level crossing prior to the road markings and red level crossing lights. The passenger bus was stopped at the head of the traffic queue at the level crossing, with traffic queuing due to the traffic lights at the intersection of Crompton and Draper Street. A road intersection controlled by traffic lights is situated approximately 70 metres north-west of the level crossing, intersection of Draper and Comport Street. The bus remained stopped for about 20 seconds, and as traffic began to clear at the other side of the level crossing, the bus accelerated into the level crossing, into the path of train 4C61. When the bus started to move into the level crossing the train was about metres away, travelling at or below the 30 km/h track speed. The front of the train collided with the rear driver s side of the bus, causing the bus to rotate in a clockwise direction and pushed clear of the train path, coming to stop north of the railway track against the level crossing signal box. At the time of arrival of emergency services, the level crossing red lights were still operating. Witnesses advised that the train s horn/klaxon was used on approach to the level crossing. As a result of the collision a number of passengers and rail traffic crew received injuries, with a number of bus passengers ejected from the bus on impact. Substantial damage was caused to the bus. The signal box and level crossing signals were extensively damaged. Traffic control was put in place to manage the crossing until the signal can be repaired. Minor damage was caused to the lead locomotive. The investigation is continuing. Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 5 of 10

6 Image 1: Train and bus in situ (Source: Queensland Rail) 2. FACTUAL INFORMATION 2.1 Location Draper Street level crossing is situated on the North Coast Line, situated approximately 1.36 kilometres from the Cairns railway station towards Portsmith. The track infrastructure at the level crossing is a non-electrified bi-directional narrow gauge track. The level crossing allows a single lane of road vehicle traffic in either direction. The track speed for the level crossing is 30 km/h for rail traffic, with the 30 km/h speed limit and whistle board located approximately 140 metres prior to the level crossing on the approach side. The sign posted speed limit for road vehicles on Draper Street is 60 km/h. In addition to the flashing red lights, which are activated by an approaching train, there are also a number of traffic signs and road markings indicating the presence of a railway level crossing. 2.2 Level crossing/road interface The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices 1 (Part 7: Railway Crossings) outlines the use of signs, markings and other devices at level crossings in Queensland based on uniform standards and practices. The Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) is the Australian and New Zealand standard for assessing level crossings. ALCAM is an assessment tool designed to prioritise level crossing safety improvement works as well as assisting in the determination of the most effective treatment at the site. 1 Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 6 of 10

7 The road manager, Cairns Regional Council and Queensland Rail as the rail infrastructure manager are required to enter into an interface agreement to manage the risk to the safety of persons arising from the level crossing. Image 2: Location of level crossing with reference to Cairns CBD and Portsmith Rail Complex Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 7 of 10

8 N Image 3: Draper Street level crossing Rail operator/rolling stock information The KSR operates between Cairns and Kuranda on the Tablelands system in north Queensland, the train service travels a distance of kilometres each way. KSR operates under the accreditation of Queensland Rail. Queensland Rail is accredited under the Transport (Rail Safety) Act 2010 to operate rolling stock and to manage rail infrastructure in suburban and selected regional areas. The KSR fleet consists of 33 carriages and 5 locomotives, which are stowed, maintained and provisioned at the Portsmith Rail Complex. The carriages are heritage stock, primarily built in the 1940 s. Train 4C61 was the first of two scheduled services of the day and was an 11 car service, with two 1720 class diesel electric locomotives providing the power, lead locomotive 1774 with 1738 as the second Power Run locomotive. The train service was approximately 210 metres in length and weighed about 392 tonnes. The train crew consisted of two drivers, both holding current Maintenance of Competency and Certificate of Fitness (medical). 2 Additional road marking exist that are not displayed on this satellite image Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 8 of 10

9 2.4 Road operator/vehicle information The passenger bus is owned and operated by Loves Bus Services Qld, which operate a Cairns School Bus and charter service. The involved bus was a 2013 BCI Classmaster 57, which was registered at the time of the incident. BCI specify a Classmaster 57 bus as being metres in length, metres in width and metres high. 3 At the time of the incident the bus was being operated on a charter service on behalf of the Endeavour Foundation. 2.5 Environmental Conditions The Bureau of Meteorology 4 recorded that on 15 June 2015, there was 6.4 mm of rain recorded at Cairns Aero, minimum temperature of 21.4 degrees and maximum 27 degrees. 3 INVESTIGATION The investigation is continuing, and will focus on: The operation of the KSR train service operated by Queensland Rail The interaction between the bus movements and the level crossing infrastructure The review of geography and infrastructure of the Draper Street level crossing The relationship between the level crossing protection and the traffic lights situated at the intersection of Draper Street and Comport Street Assessment of human factors to identify any underlying matters, the interface and the actions of relevant parties which may have caused or contributed to the incident Any other issue that becomes apparent during the course of the investigation. 3 As detailed on manufactures website, involved bus may have been modified from original specifications. 4 Transport and Main Roads, Interim Report, Serious Injury Collision, Draper Street level crossing Cairns 15 June 2015 Page 9 of 10

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