Kerang train accident

Level crossing The Murray Valley Highway crosses the Piangil railway line about north-west of the town of Kerang. The level crossing at this location, numbered Y2943, was protected prior to the accident by warning signs, road markings, flashing lights and warning bells, all of which were later found to be operational at the time of the crash. The highway is a single-carriageway, two-lane bitumen road, with a gentle curve about prior to the level crossing when approaching from the south. At the level crossing, the speed limit was . The railway is a single line with a speed limit of for passenger trains. One fatal crash had previously occurred at the crossing, in 1995, but a database maintained by Transport Safety Victoria had recorded a number of near misses between rail and road vehicles in the months leading up to the 2007 accident. Train Southbound V/Line passenger train 8042 was a regularly scheduled passenger service from Swan Hill to Southern Cross, Melbourne. The train consisted of N class locomotive N460 and three carriages, designated set N7: ACN21, a first class carriage; BRN20, an economy class carriage with buffet facilities; and BN19, a second economy carriage. It departed Swan Hill at 1.00pm with a scheduled arrival time in Kerang of 1.39p.m. The train was crewed by a fully qualified V/Line driver from Melbourne, and two conductors, one from Bendigo and the other from Melbourne, who were jointly responsible for passenger services and operating the buffet. Thirty-four passengers were on board at the time of the accident: 6 in the leading carriage, ACN21, 21 in BRN20, and seven at the rear of the train in BN19. Truck The semi-trailer truck involved in the accident consisted of a refrigerated curtain sided trailer hauled by a Kenworth K104B prime mover. Its driver, Christiaan Scholl, was transporting a load of timber and pipe fittings from Victoria to South Australia on behalf of Canny Carrying Company. On 5 June, Scholl departed Wangaratta about 90 minutes later than was usual for his cross-border trip. It was usual for him to cross the railway line at Kerang around noon. == Incident ==

The train involved in the accident was a locomotive-hauled service from Swan Hill that departed for Melbourne at 13:00, operated by an N class locomotive and three car N type carriage set. The collision caused the closure of nearby sections of the Murray Valley Highway. its impact was devastating. The truck, owned by the Canny Carrying Company of Wangaratta and driven by Christiaan Scholl, was extensively damaged on impact with the carriages, although Scholl only sustained shoulder and head injuries. One survivor recalled, "A lady sitting across from me saw the truck and closed her eyes. You just wonder how anybody got out." Ursula McGuinnes, general manager of Stakeholder Relations for V/Line, noted that the level crossing was protected with lights and bells, which were still sounding and flashing when emergency services arrived, but did not have boom gates. == Response ==

Emergency response was swift, with a number of seriously injured people airlifted to Melbourne, while others were taken by road or air ambulance to nearby Kerang Hospital. Both the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services Mark Vaile and the Prime Minister John Howard spoke to the media, offering Federal government aid to families as well as the investigative assistance of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. V/Line announced it would support a full inquiry and had arranged counselling for the passengers and their families. Chief executive Rob Barnett said the incident would raise questions about the safety of level crossings, but asked everyone to resist jumping to conclusions. Due to the nature of land surrounding the accident site, some earthworks were required to provide a solid footing for the heavy lifting equipment needed to remove the rolling stock damaged in the accident. Once removed from the line, the damaged rolling stock was transported to Melbourne for further investigation, The driver of the semi-trailer, Christiaan Scholl, was charged with one count of culpable driving and on 7 June was bailed to appear before Bendigo Magistrates Court on 19 December. A police spokesman stated that more charges were expected to be laid in due course. On 18 August 2008, Scholl was committed for trial on 11 charges of causing death by culpable driving and 8 charges of causing injury by negligent driving. His trial began in Bendigo on 26 May 2009. On 13 June 2009, he was found not guilty on all charges. A group of crash victims indicated they would pursue a civil action against Scholl. One of the train's conductors settled his claim against Scholl out of court in 2011 for an undisclosed sum of money. ==Inquest==

An inquiry into the Kerang rail disaster was due to begin on 18 January 2011, but was delayed by a day due to flooding in the region. The inquest began on 19 January at the Coroner's Court in Bendigo. After a minute's silence, coroner Dr Jane Hendtlass heard evidence from the driver of the train. The inquest was scheduled to run over 58 days. The inquest ultimately investigated 15 other deaths at Victorian level crossings. Its findings were released on 21 October 2013, and included recommendations that V/Line's emergency procedure and training be improved, that level crossing design be revisited to examine the best ways to alert drivers to approaching trains, and that better records be kept of level crossing incidents. == See also ==