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| Train derailment: Driver and co-pilot killed in Sydney-Melbourne route | Train derailment: Driver and co-pilot killed in Sydney-Melbourne route |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Two people were killed when a train carrying 153 passengers between Sydney and Melbourne derailed, officials say. | Two people were killed when a train carrying 153 passengers between Sydney and Melbourne derailed, officials say. |
| The crash occurred near Wallan, a town north of Melbourne on Thursday night. | The crash occurred near Wallan, a town north of Melbourne on Thursday night. |
| Police said the male driver 54, and his female co-pilot, 49, died in the crash while 11 others had minor injuries. | Police said the male driver 54, and his female co-pilot, 49, died in the crash while 11 others had minor injuries. |
| An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash, which police say is unknown. Concerns have been raised about the condition of the track at the time of the accident. | An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash, which police say is unknown. Concerns have been raised about the condition of the track at the time of the accident. |
| Five carriages as well as the locomotive had come off the tracks, officials said. Pictures showed twisted carriages, with one on its side. | Five carriages as well as the locomotive had come off the tracks, officials said. Pictures showed twisted carriages, with one on its side. |
| It was "very lucky" that more people were not killed or injured, police told reporters on Friday. | It was "very lucky" that more people were not killed or injured, police told reporters on Friday. |
| "It is a tragedy that unfortunately the pilot and the driver were killed in the incident, but I am amazed that there weren't more passengers at least injured or worse than what they were," said Insp. Peter Koger. | "It is a tragedy that unfortunately the pilot and the driver were killed in the incident, but I am amazed that there weren't more passengers at least injured or worse than what they were," said Insp. Peter Koger. |
| The train left the tracks at about 19:50 local time on Thursday (08:50 GMT), about 45km (28 miles) north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria. | The train left the tracks at about 19:50 local time on Thursday (08:50 GMT), about 45km (28 miles) north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria. |
| Passengers told Australian media they were thrown around the carriage for a minute as the train derailed. | Passengers told Australian media they were thrown around the carriage for a minute as the train derailed. |
| "It just veered off, and all the carriages smashed into one another," Rob Jennings told The Age newspaper. | "It just veered off, and all the carriages smashed into one another," Rob Jennings told The Age newspaper. |
| "People were tossing around … there was some screaming - everyone was just grasping on, some in the brace position, preparing for the possibility of something worse." | "People were tossing around … there was some screaming - everyone was just grasping on, some in the brace position, preparing for the possibility of something worse." |
| Earlier in the journey, the driver had also announced to passengers that he would try to make up time for earlier delays, passengers reported. | Earlier in the journey, the driver had also announced to passengers that he would try to make up time for earlier delays, passengers reported. |
| The train is the main long-distance service between Sydney and Melbourne, and runs along tracks operated by the federal government. | The train is the main long-distance service between Sydney and Melbourne, and runs along tracks operated by the federal government. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack defended the track's condition on Friday. | Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack defended the track's condition on Friday. |
| "No authority in Australia would allow a train to travel on an unsafe track. That just wouldn't happen," he said. | "No authority in Australia would allow a train to travel on an unsafe track. That just wouldn't happen," he said. |
| Victoria's rail union has said its drivers had previously refused to drive along the track. | Victoria's rail union has said its drivers had previously refused to drive along the track. |
| A "full and thorough investigation" would be carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the rail safety regulator, said Mr McCormack. | A "full and thorough investigation" would be carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the rail safety regulator, said Mr McCormack. |
| "Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of those who have lost their lives," he said. | "Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of those who have lost their lives," he said. |
| Train services along the affected line will be suspended until the investigation is concluded. | Train services along the affected line will be suspended until the investigation is concluded. |