Monday, April 17, 2023
Queensland Rail charged over fatal accident
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has filed three charges against Queensland Rail (QR) following an investigation into a fatal train accident at Westwood, near Rockhampton in Queensland, in June 2021.
The charges relate to a collision between a QR locomotive and a coal train in which the driver of the locomotive was killed, and two other rail safety workers were injured.
ONRSR will allege that QR failed to comply with its safety duties as an accredited rail transport operator under Rail Safety National Law (RSNL).
The matter is being pursued in the interests of rail safety as part of our role to enforce compliance with the RSNL, and in the public interest to provide for the safe carrying out of railway operations and promoting public confidence in rail operations.
Under RSNL the maximum penalty applicable to a rail transport operator for breaches of this kind is $1.5M per offence.
As the matter is now before the courts, ONRSR will not be making any further comment at this time.