https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-46105280
Runaway train derailed in Australia after 50 minutes
Image copyright BHP Image caption The train had been transporting iron ore from a mine in Western Australia
A freight train was deliberately derailed after hurtling through Western Australia at high speed for 50 minutes without its driver.
The 268-wagon train, owned by mining giant BHP, travelled for 92km (57 miles) with no-one on board in the outback Pilbara region on Monday.
The company said it had derailed the train remotely from Perth. It has since suspended its rail operations.
BHP said the incident had begun when the driver alighted to inspect a wagon.
"While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train commenced to run away," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in a statement.
No-one was injured when the train, carrying iron ore, was derailed at 05:30 local time (18:30 Sunday GMT), the ATSB said. It has begun an investigation.
It was derailed near Turner, about 120km from its destination, damaging the train and a 1.5km section of track.
The train was estimated to have been travelling at an average speed of 110km/h (68mph).
BHP said the train had travelled through a sparsely populated region on the company's own tracks.
State Premier Mark McGowan described the incident as "very concerning".
"I am sure that there will be a full review undertaken by BHP, and I will consult about what role the state might have in that," he said on Tuesday.
The Anglo-Australian miner said it was likely to take a week to restore its operations.
In July, rival company Rio Tinto said it had become the world's first miner to complete a heavy freight journey with new driverless train technology.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/aerial-footage-of-runaway-iron-ore-train/10471104
Aerial footage shows crash site after runaway train derailed
Posted Tue at 6:41pm
Rail safety officers are investigating an incident involving a runaway BHP iron ore train which had to be derailed south of Port Hedland after travelling more than 90 kilometres without its driver.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11...tfall-after-runaway-train-derailment/10473714
BHP runaway train derailment leaves miner flagging iron ore shortfall amid clean-up
By Emily Piesse
Updated about 3 hours ago
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Video: Aerial footage shows crash site after runaway train derailed (ABC News)
Related Story: Runaway BHP ore train left a twisted wreck after derailment stopped it reaching port town
Related Story: BHP counts cost of runaway ore train derailment after suspending rail operations
BHP does not believe its stockpiles of iron ore at Port Hedland, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, will be sufficient to meets its contracts with customers following the deliberate derailment of an out-of-control train.
Key points:
The miner suspended all of its rail operations on Monday after it derailed the iron ore train, damaging 1.5 kilometres of track and crushing many of the 268 fully-laden wagons in the process.
BHP said yesterday it planned to use its stockpile reserves at the port in order to maintain supply over the coming days.
However, the company now says it expects the reserves will not be sufficient to cover the period of disruption until partial rail operations can resume in "about one week".
Photo: The train was derailed at Turner Siding after travelling more than 90km without a driver. (Supplied)
The train derailment happened about 5:30am on Monday and was coordinated from BHP's remote operations centre in Perth, about 1,500km away.
The driver had stopped at Hesta Siding to check a wagon, but the train — en route from Newman to Port Hedland — took off without him and careered 92 kilometres down the track before being derailed at Turner Siding.
Vision of the wreckage showed the force of the impact caused many wagons to be crushed or tipped over, with others shunted off the track.
BHP 'cannot speculate' on investigation
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Video: Vision shows the twisted and mangled remains of a runaway train derailed by BHP (ABC News)
More than 130 workers have been deployed to repair the track and recover the wreckage, with BHP saying it would be removed "over the next few days".
Embed: BHP train deliberately derailed in WA's Pilbara region
In a statement, the company said "material logistics" to enable repair of the track were "well advanced", with more workers expected to be assigned as the work progressed.
"We cannot speculate on the outcome of the investigation, however we are working with the appropriate authorities and our focus remains on the safe recovery of our operations," the BHP spokeswoman said.
The miner is yet to indicate how much the derailment and subsequent disruption is expected to cost, although analysts have suggested it could run into the tens of millions of dollars.
Despite the closure of its rail network, BHP's iron ore mines remain open and operating.
Separate investigations into the train derailment are being conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and BHP.
The ATSB said it expected to finish its investigation by the second quarter of 2019.
Photo: The derailment damaged 1.5 kilometres of track, according to BHP. (Supplied)
Topics: rail-transport, rail, iron-ore, mining-industry, port-hedland-6721, perth-6000, wa
First posted about 5 hours ago
Runaway train derailed in Australia after 50 minutes
- 6 November 2018
Image copyright BHP Image caption The train had been transporting iron ore from a mine in Western Australia
A freight train was deliberately derailed after hurtling through Western Australia at high speed for 50 minutes without its driver.
The 268-wagon train, owned by mining giant BHP, travelled for 92km (57 miles) with no-one on board in the outback Pilbara region on Monday.
The company said it had derailed the train remotely from Perth. It has since suspended its rail operations.
BHP said the incident had begun when the driver alighted to inspect a wagon.
"While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train commenced to run away," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in a statement.
No-one was injured when the train, carrying iron ore, was derailed at 05:30 local time (18:30 Sunday GMT), the ATSB said. It has begun an investigation.
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It was derailed near Turner, about 120km from its destination, damaging the train and a 1.5km section of track.
The train was estimated to have been travelling at an average speed of 110km/h (68mph).
BHP said the train had travelled through a sparsely populated region on the company's own tracks.
State Premier Mark McGowan described the incident as "very concerning".
"I am sure that there will be a full review undertaken by BHP, and I will consult about what role the state might have in that," he said on Tuesday.
The Anglo-Australian miner said it was likely to take a week to restore its operations.
In July, rival company Rio Tinto said it had become the world's first miner to complete a heavy freight journey with new driverless train technology.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/aerial-footage-of-runaway-iron-ore-train/10471104
Aerial footage shows crash site after runaway train derailed
Posted Tue at 6:41pm
Rail safety officers are investigating an incident involving a runaway BHP iron ore train which had to be derailed south of Port Hedland after travelling more than 90 kilometres without its driver.
Print Email Facebook Twitter More
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11...tfall-after-runaway-train-derailment/10473714
BHP runaway train derailment leaves miner flagging iron ore shortfall amid clean-up
By Emily Piesse
Updated about 3 hours ago
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Video: Aerial footage shows crash site after runaway train derailed (ABC News)
Related Story: Runaway BHP ore train left a twisted wreck after derailment stopped it reaching port town
Related Story: BHP counts cost of runaway ore train derailment after suspending rail operations
BHP does not believe its stockpiles of iron ore at Port Hedland, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, will be sufficient to meets its contracts with customers following the deliberate derailment of an out-of-control train.
Key points:
- BHP says it expects its Pilbara iron ore rail operations will resume in "about one week"
- More than 130 workers have been sent to repair the damaged train line
- The derailment is being investigated by the ATSB, rail safety regulators and BHP
The miner suspended all of its rail operations on Monday after it derailed the iron ore train, damaging 1.5 kilometres of track and crushing many of the 268 fully-laden wagons in the process.
BHP said yesterday it planned to use its stockpile reserves at the port in order to maintain supply over the coming days.
However, the company now says it expects the reserves will not be sufficient to cover the period of disruption until partial rail operations can resume in "about one week".
"We will be liaising with our customers in relation to our contractual commitments over this period," a BHP spokeswoman said.
Photo: The train was derailed at Turner Siding after travelling more than 90km without a driver. (Supplied) The train derailment happened about 5:30am on Monday and was coordinated from BHP's remote operations centre in Perth, about 1,500km away.
The driver had stopped at Hesta Siding to check a wagon, but the train — en route from Newman to Port Hedland — took off without him and careered 92 kilometres down the track before being derailed at Turner Siding.
Vision of the wreckage showed the force of the impact caused many wagons to be crushed or tipped over, with others shunted off the track.
BHP 'cannot speculate' on investigation
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Video: Vision shows the twisted and mangled remains of a runaway train derailed by BHP (ABC News)
More than 130 workers have been deployed to repair the track and recover the wreckage, with BHP saying it would be removed "over the next few days".
Embed: BHP train deliberately derailed in WA's Pilbara region
In a statement, the company said "material logistics" to enable repair of the track were "well advanced", with more workers expected to be assigned as the work progressed.
"We cannot speculate on the outcome of the investigation, however we are working with the appropriate authorities and our focus remains on the safe recovery of our operations," the BHP spokeswoman said.
The miner is yet to indicate how much the derailment and subsequent disruption is expected to cost, although analysts have suggested it could run into the tens of millions of dollars.
Despite the closure of its rail network, BHP's iron ore mines remain open and operating.
Separate investigations into the train derailment are being conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and BHP.
The ATSB said it expected to finish its investigation by the second quarter of 2019.
Photo: The derailment damaged 1.5 kilometres of track, according to BHP. (Supplied) Topics: rail-transport, rail, iron-ore, mining-industry, port-hedland-6721, perth-6000, wa
First posted about 5 hours ago
