An investigation has been launched after a train derailed on Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway last week.
The diesel train and popular tourist attraction was carrying 90 passengers on February 28 when it experienced a derailment on its return journey from the historic Dubbil Barril station to Strahan.
According to the acting general manager of the railway, Ian Robertson, the incident occurred when the locomotive’s front wheels came off the track at a speed of ‘no more than 10 to 15 kilometres per hour’.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, however the West Coast Wilderness Railway has suspended its passenger services departing from Strahan with immediate effect.
The company say half-day passenger journeys from Queenstown remain unaffected and will continue as scheduled.
While the incident was “relatively minor”, the railway has reported its findings to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and has stated that more work needs to be done before it can ensure minimal risk to passengers and staff.
The suspension of services has led to disappointment and potential disruption for many passengers who had booked to travel on the railway in the coming weeks.
The railway’s operations department is currently conducting investigations, and the ticketing staff are contacting all affected passengers.
Unfortunately, some members of the railway’s team have faced abuse and harassment while doing this and the railway has pledged not to tolerate such behavior moving forward.
