"The express passenger train (XPT) - which can reach speeds of up to 160km/h - came off the tracks just before 8pm Thursday near the town of Wallan, 50km north of Melbourne."

"The driver, 54, from the Australian Capital Territory and his female pilot, 49, from Victoria died at the scene after the train from Sydney to Melbourne derailed with 160 passengers on board."  


We had a terrible rail accident in Country Victoria last night.


The XPT derailed with the loss of 2 lives, the driver and the pilot.


All passengers survived without any life threatening injuries - however one person was taken to hospital in a stable condition and 11 others were taken to hospital with minor injuries. 

I have been on that train - and you would never believe something like this could happen

Of course there will be an enquiry into the incident but I give my whole hearted condolences to the families of the driver and pilot who perished in the crash

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8026393/Train-driver-told-passengers-wanted-make-time-horror-derailment-north-Melbourne.html

The full circumstances are subject to a formal enquiry.  I know the location, the train type and some of the circumstances.

 The XPT train is a derivative of the British HST and whilst the passenger cars were built to a local design they incorporate much of the British Mk3 HST coach strength.  The power cars are structurally and mechanically very similar to the British ones and the train sets are about the same age.  

The XPT was built and designed as per the HST to run as 2+8 consists but for many years now have operated in reduced formation as 2+6 or 2+5.  They can also run as 1+4 since locomotive turning facilities exist throughout Australia which operates largely single-ended traction types in the American style.  

Wallan is around 50kms north of Melbourne at a location where the Victorian broad gauge and interstate standard gauge lines run parallel.  The latter is a single line with crossing loops of which Wallan is one.  It is one of the last two of the old 1500m loops with low-speed turnouts at entry and exit.  More recent installations have been longer to permit the operation of lengthy freights and with somewhat higher speeds through the entry and exit turnouts.  The loop lies to the east of the straight running lines.  

It would be normal for a train to take the straight route in either direction unless crossing another in which case a southbound (towards Melbourne) train would normally take the loop.  

The XPT was southbound but on the day in question no other train was in the area.  This was because a significant signal failure had caused the fixed signals to turn "dark" and show no aspect.  That is the reason there was a pilot on the train.  In just the same way as in the UK if there is a total failure of signalling a pilot must accompany a train through the affected section and no train may move without the pilot aboard.  The quality of track and reliability of signalling in this area have been complained of by train crews for quite some time and a statement has been released indicating the driver of this train had filed a report regarding the track condition only a few days earlier on his previous trip.  

All reports indicate the train had stopped to pick up the pilot and was accelerating under power when the derailment occurred.  It would be expected that the train would take the straight route although which was actually set is for the investigation to establish.  

The damage to tracks and position of the train after coming to rest suggest that it deviated into the Wallan Loop at a speed somewhat in excess of the permitted 15 kmh.  Again the final verdict is for the enquiry to determine.  The straight track is almost undamaged; the XPT has to my mind therefore - and for reasons to be determined - taken the turnout into the loop.  What ever passed between driver and pilot we may never know.  Responsibility for the incident is again for the official enquiry to determine.  

The passengers were shaken but not (with one exception) seriously hurt.  The driver and pilot sadly passed away at the scene.  

The site is currently being cleared and the track restored for operation.