Signalling blamed for XPT's near miss

A SIGNAL irregularity is shaping up to be the main factor behind an extreme near miss involving a freight train and passenger train at Cootamundra last month.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released a preliminary report from its investigations into the incident, which was launched following the near-disaster on November 12, last Friday.In the early hours of November 12 the XPT passenger service to Sydney was running behind schedule when it approached the Cootamundra station, pathed into Platform Road, about 2.17am.The driver of the 178-metre, 418-tonne XPT received a 'proceed' indication from a signal, indicating the line ahead into Platform Road was clear to pass.Shortly after proceeding, the XPT driver saw ahead of him the last wagon of a freight train obstructing the path of the passenger train, and "made an emergency brake application and stopped the train just short of train 4MB7" (freight train).The two-locomotive freight train was hauling 43 wagons with an overall length of 979 metres and a weight of 2373.8 tonnes.The report released by the ATSB determined "a signalling design irregularity allowed signal CA74 to be cleared for the passage of the XPT even though the route was obstructed by the last wagon of train 4MB7" and "the train controller's screen showed freight train 4MB7 clear of the fouling point despite the fact that the train was obstructing Platform Road".The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) network controller was alerted to the problem immediately after the incident, and their onsite investigation revealed an anomaly with the signalling design at this location. All further crosses of that type were prohibited pending a full investigation.According to the report, both drivers appear not to be at fault and to have reacted to the situation in the appropriate manner.Preliminary findings indicate both drivers were "suitably qualified, assessed as competent and medically fit for duty at the time of the incident".