Qld: Passenger train derails in central Queensland

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2005
Qld: Passenger train derails in central Queensland

BRISBANE, Dec 30 AAP - A passenger train derailment has left travellers stranded in
central-western Queensland.

The Spirit of the Outback locomotive came to a standstill near Alpha, between Longreach
and Rockhampton, when wheels of one of its three carriages left the track at 12.20pm (AEST)
yesterday, a Queensland Rail (QR) spokeswoman said.

The 29 passengers were unharmed and waited aboard the train for around two hours before
buses arrived, the spokeswoman said.

"A couple of wheels came off the track but the carriage stayed upright.

"Passengers stayed on the train until buses arrived, and they then ferried passengers
onto the next destination and picked up other passengers along the way."

QR expects the track to be cleared by 7pm today, but would not comment on the cause
of the derailment until investigations had taken place, the spokeswoman said.

Senior Constable Lee Newton told the ABC news network the train was not moving at full
speed when the accident occurred.

"It's been under brake coming into the 25 kilometre-an-hour zone and it appears that
the rear carriage has left the tracks," Mr Newton told the ABC.

"In turn, it's pulled the next carriage in front of it off the track and the carriage
in front of that, it has partially left the track.

"There's no official comment made by Queensland Rail but what I'd expect has happened
is, due to the heat and the braking of the train, perhaps the train tracks have moved
or separated somehow," he said.

AAP rl/lma/de

KEYWORD: DERAILMENT

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