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Runaway BHP train derailed after travelling 57 miles with no driver Runaway BHP train derailed after travelling 92km with no driver
(about 11 hours later)
A train loaded with iron ore and operated by BHP ran away without a driver for 57 miles (92km) before being forcibly derailed, the company and Australian authorities have said. A runaway 2km-long train loaded with iron ore has been forcibly derailed after it escaped from its driver in the West Australian outback.
On Monday, the world’s biggest miner suspended all Western Australian iron ore rail operations while an investigation was under way, the Australian newspaper reported, without citing a source. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the 268-wagon train travelled for 92km through the Pilbara region of WA in the early hours of Monday before it was forced off the tracks some 119km from Port Hedland.
A BHP spokeswoman did not immediately comment on the report. It said the train had “commenced to run away” after the driver left the locomotive to “inspect an issue with a wagon”.
On Monday, BHP the world’s biggest miner suspended all Western Australian iron ore rail operations while an investigation was under way, the Australian newspaper reported, without citing a source.
“A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner River, en route to Port Hedland this morning,” BHP said. “No one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation.”“A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner River, en route to Port Hedland this morning,” BHP said. “No one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation.”
The damage to the vehicle was substantial, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said. “At approximately 0440 on 5 November 2018, the driver of a loaded ore train consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons stopped at the 211km point. The driver alighted from the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon,” it said in a report. The damage to the vehicle was substantial, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said.
“With no one on board, the train travelled for 92km until about 0505, when the train was deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control centre, about 119 km from Port Hedland.” “At approximately 0440 on 5 November 2018, the driver of a loaded ore train consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons stopped at the 211km point. The driver alighted from the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon,” it said in a report.
Australia’s transport authority was investigating the incident. “With no one on board, the train travelled for 92km until about 0505, when the train was deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control centre, about 119km from Port Hedland.”
It is not known how fast the train was travelling at the time of derailment although if the statement is accurate it would have been travelling close to 200km per hour.
Western AustraliaWestern Australia
BHPBHP
MiningMining
Rail transportRail transport
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