This investigation, undertaken by OTSI under a Collaboration Agreement with the ATSB, was discontinued.
What happened
At 0504 Eastern Daylight-Saving Time on Friday 1 March 2019, Pacific National (PN) grain train 5KC3 passed signal 04 26 at stop at Wagga Wagga while on a journey from Ararat, Victoria to Cootamundra, New South Wales. The train continued its journey north, passed another two signals at stop and through a set of points in Wagga Wagga yard. The train was stopped after the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Network Controller contacted the train crew by radio and informed them of the signals passed at danger events. The train crew consisted of two persons, driver 1 and driver 2.
Discontinuation
The contributing factors to this SPAD highlight the need for a positive train control system to provide additional control in the prevention of SPAD events and their subsequent consequences.
The ATSB considered the contributing factors to the derailment were a result of a failed bearing. The reasons for that failure were unable to be conclusively determined.
Due to the work underway by the operator, OTSI and the ATSB considered it was unlikely that further investigation would identify any systemic safety issues or further important safety lessons for the enhancement of transport safety.
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