OTSI conducted this investigation in collaboration with the ATSB.

What happened

At approximately 0407 on 8 January 2021, freight train 5936, travelling in the up direction (towards Sydney) failed as a result of wheel slip, on the steep Cowan bank inside Boronia tunnel No. 3. To keep the up main line clear the train crew were directed by Sydney Trains network control to propel¹the train backwards into Hawkesbury River up refuge siding.

Network rules for propelling trains require crew to direct the movement from the rear of the train via radio communication with the driver. Due to the terrain, the assistant driver and a trainee were required to walk to the rear of the train on the adjacent down main line, as there was no alternate pathway beside the track. To protect these workers from passing trains, the driver of 5936 requested track protection from the Sydney Trains signaller. This protection was provided in the form of rail signals placed to stop to prevent a train from entering the section of track where the workers were walking.

On arrival at the rear of the train the two workers and the driver of 5936 proceeded to propel the train back towards Hawkesbury River up refuge siding in accordance with procedures, with the two workers walking in advance of the train on the adjacent down main line. During the propelling movement the workers observed the lights of an oncoming train on the down main line on which they were walking. The two workers told the driver of 5936 to stop the propelling movement and the train was brought to a stand. The workers jumped clear of the oncoming train onto the adjacent cess area, with one of the workers suffering an injury. A passenger train, 247B, passed the workers, travelling around train 5936 in the up direction towards Sydney on the down main line.

The driver of 5936 contacted the Sydney Trains signaller and requested an explanation about why a train had been permitted to run on the down main while there was meant to be a signal block in place to protect the workers.

The Sydney Trains signaller told the driver the signal block had been removed once the propelling movement started, due to the signaller mistakenly thinking the workers were clear of the down main line. The incident was not reported at the time by the Sydney Trains signaller. The incident was reported by the driver of 5936 to their control centre, but it was not acted on at the time. The incident came to notice when the trainee worker reported an injury resulting from jumping out of the way of train 247B.

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