The east-west rail line has reopened following a train derailment last week that caused extensive damage to the track. The Australian
The east-west rail line has reopened following a train derailment last week that caused extensive damage to the track.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation says the track, near Mount Christie in South Australia, opened to traffic on Friday evening, September 5.
The line was closed since Monday night after a train travelling from Melbourne to Perth derailed between Tarcoola and Cook.
According to the ARTC, the train was approaching a passing loop when 12 of its wagons derailed, blocking both sides of the line.
About 300 metres of track west of the west end points was damaged, while damage to the east side of the east end turnout extended 2.2km.
“Following an assessment of the accident it was discovered that the west end points had been severely damaged and in need of replacement,” a statement from the ARTC says.
The amount of damage to the track forced trains to slow to 20km/h when approaching the east end turnout.
The east-west rail line has been notorious for derailments this year, according to Sadliers Transport Managing Director Ian Cooke.
“We’ve had a bad year for derailments,” he says.