Temporary speed restrictions have been put in place on trains approaching Richmond station following the January crash that injured 16 people.
A preliminary report published today (March 8) by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) stated Sydney Trains put the speed restriction in place in the wake of the January 22 incident.
“Whether or not the ATSB identifies safety issues in the course of an investigation, relevant organisations may proactively initiate safety action in order to reduce their safety risk,” the report stated.
“Sydney Trains has advised the ATSB that, in response to this incident, the following proactive safety actions have been implemented: A 20km/h temporary speed restriction is in place on the approach to Richmond station until a permanent 25km/h speed restriction can be applied, (and) the train stop located with signal RD5 has been modified to trigger a brake application if train speed exceeds 25km/h.”
Sixteen people were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance crews after the passenger train collided with the buffer stop shortly after 9.50am.
“The train travelled the 169 metre length of Richmond station at an estimated average speed of 35km/h,” the report stated.
“The train subsequently collided with the end-of-line buffer stop at the country end of platform two … After the impact with the buffer stop, the train recoiled backwards approximately three metres before coming to a complete stop.”
Twenty-four people were on board the train at the time, and 15 people – some with suspected fractures – were taken to hospital for treatment.
“All injured persons were from the train; no persons on the platform were injured as a consequence of the incident,” the report stated.
The train was not fully removed from the station until February 21.
The ATSB investigation is ongoing.
