An investigation has been launched after a freight train derailed while travelling through the Riverina in the early hours of Saturday morning.
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The Brisbane-bound train derailed at the heritage-listed Bethungra Rail Spiral, between Cootamundra and Junee, about 3.40am.
Emergency services were called to the scene where at least ten carriages had left the track however no injuries have been reported.
According to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) an independent body has been called to investigate the cause of the accident and repair crews are ready to begin works once the investigation is complete.
The ARTC advised the north-bound track has been damaged, however the south-bound track is fully operational for trains travelling in both directions.
The corporation said there is no current forecast for when repairs will be complete and full service will resume.
Bethungra resident Dean Masters said while it appeared the carriages toward the front of the train had escaped unscathed while the carriages toward the rear derailed.
"The very front of the rear section was extremely badly damaged," he said.
"The containers had been torn from the wagons and some were crushed. The remnant of the wagons themselves were badly damaged with the wheels, axles and bogies ending up a considerable distance from the wagons.
Mr Masters said the derailed wagons also appeared to have come very close to falling off the edge of the spiral and back onto the lower section of the track.
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