The CEO of the state’s rail operator says he is frustrated at motorists who continue to ‘blatantly ignore’ the road rules.
The comments from TasRail boss Steven Dietrich come off the back of an “incredibly serious incident” on Monday between a truck and a train at Westbury.
Police say initial investigations have revealed “inattention” from the driver of the truck may have been a contributing factor to the crash.
TasRail called in multiple cranes and dozens of specialist staff members to recover the locomotive on Tuesday afternoon.
The train, destined for the south of the state, was carrying dozens of mainly-empty containers at the time of the crash, including two wagons of hydrogen peroxide.
“While the extent of the damage won’t be fully known until the locomotive is lifted, it is currently estimated that more than 100m of track damage will need to be repaired,” Dietrich said.
“Our customers remain supportive and understanding. Freight backlogs will be managed over the coming days to minimise disruptions.”
The Western Line, TasRail’s main route to and from ports in the north-west, remains closed between Westbury and Deloraine, with repairs continuing through the day tomorrow.
“Optimistically, we are aiming to reopen the line tomorrow (Wednesday) night, but we need to be mindful that could change depending on the extent of the damage,” Dietrich said.
“There is no doubt that this was an incredibly serious incident and we’re all very thankful that both drivers are still here with their families.”
The collision comes off a string of crashes between trains and heavy vehicles across Australia.
“These aren’t rail rules, these are road rules. What is it going to take for people to do the right thing?” Dietrich said.
“Our trains can’t swerve. Our drivers have to depend on road users to do the right thing. We want everyone to go home safe and well to their families every day.”
TasRail has reported 44 level crossing ‘failure to stop’ and ‘near hit’ incidents this financial year to date.
