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Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) advised today that services on the Hunter Valley coal rail network and the Main North Line were back to normal operations after crews worked through the weekend repairing the rail line after a coal train derailment at Branxton early Friday morning.
After a full safety check, the track reopened 4.00pm Sunday.
At around 6.20am Friday, one loaded wagon on a Pacific National train from Camberwell to Port Waratah came off the line at Branxton station, damaging a short stretch of the track.
“Reduced or delayed passenger, freight and coal traffic were maintained on the network over the weekend as trains were diverted to the adjacent line,” ARTC Chief Executive Officer David Marchant said today.
“In difficult and cramped conditions, our crews worked extremely hard to get the line back in service as soon as possible.
“They’ve done a great job,” Mr Marchant said.
“No passenger services were cancelled and although some coal capacity was lost some coal trains still ran,” he said.
“ARTC train planners were able to minimise the overall impact of the derailment as we increased the number of services to mines located below Branxton in order to deliver coal to Port Waratah.
“In all, as a direct outcome of the derailment, some 30 coal trains were cancelled between Friday and today,” Mr Marchant said.
ARTC is working with the Office of Transport Safety Investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.
David Marchant
0419 733 201
Brian Dale
0418 204 198