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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/05/runaway-bhp-train-derailed-no-driver-port-hedland-western-australia
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| BHP suspends WA rail operations after train travels 92km with no driver | BHP suspends WA rail operations after train travels 92km with no driver |
| (2 months later) | |
| BHP has suspended all rail operations in Western Australia after a runaway train laden with iron ore travelled 92km with no one on board before it was deliberately derailed. | BHP has suspended all rail operations in Western Australia after a runaway train laden with iron ore travelled 92km with no one on board before it was deliberately derailed. |
| The driver of the 2km-long BHP-operated train stepped out of the locomotive early on Monday to inspect an issue with one of its 268 wagons and it took off without him. | The driver of the 2km-long BHP-operated train stepped out of the locomotive early on Monday to inspect an issue with one of its 268 wagons and it took off without him. |
| It hurtled along the company’s Newman to Port Hedland line in the remote Pilbara region for about 50 minutes until it was deliberately derailed at a set of points near Turner, about 120km south of the port town. | It hurtled along the company’s Newman to Port Hedland line in the remote Pilbara region for about 50 minutes until it was deliberately derailed at a set of points near Turner, about 120km south of the port town. |
| The action was taken by a remote control centre more than 1,500km away in Perth. | The action was taken by a remote control centre more than 1,500km away in Perth. |
| No one was injured. | No one was injured. |
| The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said damage to the train was substantial and it is estimated about 1.5km of track was damaged. | The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said damage to the train was substantial and it is estimated about 1.5km of track was damaged. |
| “We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation,” a BHP spokeswoman said in a statement. “Recovery operations are under way.” | “We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation,” a BHP spokeswoman said in a statement. “Recovery operations are under way.” |
| BHP’s WA rail operations are expected to resume in about a week. | BHP’s WA rail operations are expected to resume in about a week. |
| The company did not report the matter to the Australian stock exchange as it is not expected to have a material impact on finances. | The company did not report the matter to the Australian stock exchange as it is not expected to have a material impact on finances. |
| BHP has large iron ore stockpiles at port, so it is unlikely any scheduled shipments will be missed. | BHP has large iron ore stockpiles at port, so it is unlikely any scheduled shipments will be missed. |
| The ATSB is investigating the incident and expects its report will be complete in the second quarter of 2019. | The ATSB is investigating the incident and expects its report will be complete in the second quarter of 2019. |
| The WA premier, Mark McGowan, said he had not been briefed on what happened but it would have been very concerning for everyone involved. | The WA premier, Mark McGowan, said he had not been briefed on what happened but it would have been very concerning for everyone involved. |
| “Extraordinary measures obviously had to be used,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m sure that there will be a full review undertaken by BHP and I’ll consult about what role the state might have in that.” | “Extraordinary measures obviously had to be used,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m sure that there will be a full review undertaken by BHP and I’ll consult about what role the state might have in that.” |
| The transport minister, Rita Saffioti, said the National Rail Safety Regulator had been informed and was investigating. | The transport minister, Rita Saffioti, said the National Rail Safety Regulator had been informed and was investigating. |
| Western Australia | Western Australia |
| BHP | BHP |
| Mining | Mining |
| Rail transport | Rail transport |
| news | news |
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