Braking issue the reason VLine train smashed through historic Ballarat gates

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says the trains sanding system was ineffective even with the driver trying to slow down about 5 kilometres before the station.

 

“Light rain was the primary environmental factor in the development of the slippery conditions, and the very low levels of adhesion at the contact between the train’s wheels and the rail head substantially reduced the train’s braking performance,” said chief investigator Mark Smallwood in a statement.

 

“There were missed opportunities to identify weaknesses in the sander configuration, while maintenance of the sander units did not test for discharge flow rates, and train preparation processes did not ensure a required minimum amount of sand in the sand boxes,” he said.

 

There’s still no word on when the historic gates will be replaced and how they may integrate with the current boom gates.

 

 

 

 

Image: Supplied