V/Line drivers had refused to traverse a section of unmaintained track where a Castlemaine man died after an interstate train carrying 153 passengers derailed in Wallan last Thursday evening.
Victoria Police has confirmed the 49-year-old was the train pilot and died alongside the train’s driver, a 54-year-old man from the Australian Capital Territory.
The XPT train was travelling from Sydney to Melbourne when the engine and several carriages derailed near the Hume Freeway just before 8pm.
Twelve others were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Rail Tram and Bus Union, Victorian branch State secretary Luba Grigorovitch confirmed the trail derailed “over a section of track that was awaiting maintenance”.
“Conditions were altered and V/Line drivers rightly refused to traverse this section over the past week,” Grigorovitch said.
“The RTBU is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that has taken the life of two rail workers and unnecessarily injured many more.”
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy, from other rail workers, affected passengers and the family and friends of all those grieving from this incident.
“Today marks a difficult day for drivers and rail workers across the state and the RTBU will be here not only to offer support but to ensure a thorough investigation is undertaken.”
Victoria Police issued a statement at 10am Friday, that emergency services finished searching the crash scene and were confident the scene had been cleared of all passengers and staff aboard the train, however, police were still working with the train company to confirm passenger numbers.
Police will investigate the cause of the incident in with National Rail Safety Regulator, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and WorkSafe.
Anyone who was on the train and hasn’t spoken with emergency services or who purchased a ticket but did not board the train is asked to call Seymour Police Station on 5735 0200.
