Queensland Rail charged over fatal CQ accident

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has filed three charges against Queensland Rail over a fatal train accident near Rockhampton in 2021. The maximum penalty applicable to a rail transport operator for breaches of this kind is $1.5 million per offence. On June 18, 2021, a Queensland Rail locomotive collided with the rear of a stationary Aurizon coal train at Westwood, about 45km west of Rockhampton. Queensland Rail driver Chris O'Brien from Margate was killed in the accident, and a second driver and a tutor driver were both injured. ONRSR will allege that QR failed to comply with its safety duties as an accredited rail transport operator under Rail Safety National Law . "The matter is being pursued in the interests of rail safety as part of our role to enforce compliance with the RSNL, and in the public interest to provide for the safe carrying out of railway operations and promoting public confidence in rail operations," the safety regulator stated. "...As the matter is now before the courts, ONRSR will not be making any further comment at this time." Queensland Rail stated that it would not contest the prosecution and would work proactively with the regulator in relation to the charges to resolve the matter promptly. "Queensland Rail remains deeply saddened by this incident and the loss of a colleague. We continue to support the family of the deceased as well as the other two drivers and their families," the transport operator said in an official statement on the charges. "At Queensland Rail safety is paramount. We remain committed to operate a safe railway and to learn from this incident and do all that we can to prevent it from happening again — we want to ensure that when our people come to work, they work safe and go home safe. "Since the incident, Queensland Rail has implemented a comprehensive program to improve safety on the network, including permanently codifying long-end leading restrictions into our Safety and Environment Management System for all operators on the QR Network, and Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD) prevention activities. "We have worked cooperatively with the National Rail Safety Regulator (and other authorities) to improve rail safety and will continue to do so." The locomotive involved was being used for route tuition on the Blackwater system and was long-end leading (that is, operated in the reverse direction to normal operation) which affected visibility. At the time of the accident there was a maintenance closure on the down line to the west of Westwood, which meant all rail traffic in that area had to use the up line, and the common loop at Westwood was used for passing traffic. The Aurizon coal train was stationary in the common loop at the time of the crash. The Queensland Rail locomotive and the last nine wagons of the coal train sustained significant damage.

Queensland Rail charged over fatal CQ accident

Industry Queensland

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