"THUMP! Bang, bang, bang."
That was how a Hobartville resident described the sound of a power pole crashing onto the carriage behind hers last Wednesday, as her train travelled between Schofields and Riverstone stations.
"You'd think a truck had hit the train," Joan Gow, 80, said.
A RailCorp spokesman confirmed on Monday, that a pole supporting overhead wiring had hit the Richmond-bound train, and that no-one was hurt in the incident.
"The cause of the incident is still being investigated but there is evidence to suggest the pole could have been damaged by termite activity," the spokesperson said.
As a result of the accident RailCorp has promised to upgrade the poles to galvanised steel structures over the next five years, but has defended its maintenance schedule before the accident.
"RailCorp regularly carries out wooden overhead wiring support-pole base checks in accordance with electrical industry best practice," the spokesperson said.
"In this instance the degradation of the pole was not externally visible."
But Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW lead organiser Doug Klineberg said RailCorp must ensure the safety of passengers and staff in the meantime, and while he knows the poles on that line were maintained according to the engineering standard, it was now clear that those standards regarding pole integrity must be urgently reviewed.
"RailCorp needs to conclude its investigation (into the accident) so the public know what happened and feel safe that it won't happen again," he said.
"There's a lot of poles there doing exactly the same job as this one."
He also said that while 90-95 per cent of the metropolitan train system has steel structures supporting the power lines, Richmond line still has a few historic sections with wooden poles.
"It's probably worth the government investing some money to bring the Richmond line into line with the rest of the metropolitan system," he said.
NSW Shadow Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian told The Gazette, the incident was evidence that "the state's infrastructure was literally falling down around residents' ears".
"Leaked Cabinet documents have revealed the Rees Labor Government failed to spend RailCorp's annual capital budget by 24 per cent last financial year, so it's little wonder our rail network is falling apart," she said.
"This is a concerning incident, but what's more disturbing is the Rees Labor Govern- ment has apparently tried to hush it up."
Passenger Joan Gow said the accident happened "three blocks back" from Riverstone Station.
"It was at 2.01pm," she said. "The train glided to a stop and there was an announcement about an accident. Later, there was an announcement for everyone to go to the guard's carriage in the middle of the train, where we would be taken off."
Talking to rail and fire brigade staff she was told the pole holding wires servicing the train had evidence of white ant activity, and that they explained to her how it might have happened.
"When the train goes past, stress goes on the wires [supported by the poles], pushing them up," she said. It was her understanding that this constant stress would have impacted on the white-anted wood of the pole, eventually causing it to break.
Mrs Gow, who has a mobility scooter, was very happy with her treatment by RailCorp staff.
They first lifted her scooter off the train, then carried her off, stopping the traffic so she could cross the road on her scooter.
She then rode it to Riverstone Station.
"Within three quarters of an hour of the accident, they had everyone off the train, which I thought was great," she said.
"I was very impressed with Jamie from Riverstone Station for his patience and help and concern for all the elderly (on the train)."
Coaches were arranged to take passengers onto Richmond.
A wheelchair taxi took Mrs Gow.
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