MILIUX
November 15th, 2004, 10:01 PM
Scores injured in Queensland train derailment
At least 79 people were injured, one seriously, when seven carriages of a high speed train derailed in southern Queensland today.
Police said the Tilt Train came off the tracks about 12.15am (AEST, 1.15am AEDT) about 400km north of Brisbane, near the Queensland coastal city of Bundaberg.
All 157 passengers and seven crew had been freed from the train, police said.
There were 79 people injured, with 48 "walking wounded" taken by bus to hospitals in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Gin Gin, police said.
One man with serious injuries was airlifted to Bundaberg.
Police said seven of the train's nine carriages derailed about 60km north of the city, near Rosedale.
The train was travelling from Brisbane to Cairns when the accident happened.
The cause of the accident was not known, police said.
A hotline has been set up for relatives and friends seeking information about the crash on 1800 100 188.
The Tilt Train has been in service since 1998 and can travel at speeds of up to 160kph.
Three services run between Brisbane and Cairns each week.
The Tilt Train can cover the 620km trip between Brisbane and Rockhampton, about a third of the way to Cairns, in about seven hours.
Trains that tilt can go up to 40 per cent faster around curves than conventional trains.
"About 12.15 (AEST) the train was going from Brisbane to Cairns and it's derailed about 10 minutes north of Rosedale," a police spokeswoman told ABC radio.
"Seven of nine cars have come off the tracks and emergency services have been frantic this morning clearing all 157 passengers, as well as seven crew, from the train.
"There are dozens of people being treated for injuries and one person has been airlifted this morning to Bundaberg in a serious condition.
"Those with less serious injuries are being treated at the scene, or transported by coaches ... as well as multiple ambulances. They are going to hospitals in Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Gladstone."
She said there were no fatalities.
Dr John Scott, the chief of operations with Queensland Health, said 17 people had received "significant" injuries.
"Fortunately, considering that we had about 160 people on the train, we've only got about 17 people who have been significantly injured, and of those only about two that are seriously injured," Dr Scott told ABC radio.
"We've got a variety of injuries, mostly rib injuries, spinal injuries, abrasions. We've got one fractured limb, and some abdominal injuries."
Queensland Rail chief executive Bob Scheuber said it was not known if the train was travelling at full speed when it derailed.
"We don't know what speed, yet, the train was doing, but there is a black box recorder on the train and of course that will be one of the key pieces of information that the ATSB will want to look at in determining the cause," he told ABC radio.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be fully investigating the cause of the accident.
Mr Scheuber said the train was on a good quality section of track when it derailed.
"It was on a 150kph section (of track). It's good quality track ... it's heavy duty rail," he said.
He said emergency services had difficulty getting to victims in the fourth carriage of the train.
"Initially we had difficulty getting into ... the fourth car to get everyone out," he said.
"But that was the only issue in terms of trying to get people off the train."
At least 79 people were injured, one seriously, when seven carriages of a high speed train derailed in southern Queensland today.
Police said the Tilt Train came off the tracks about 12.15am (AEST, 1.15am AEDT) about 400km north of Brisbane, near the Queensland coastal city of Bundaberg.
All 157 passengers and seven crew had been freed from the train, police said.
There were 79 people injured, with 48 "walking wounded" taken by bus to hospitals in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Gin Gin, police said.
One man with serious injuries was airlifted to Bundaberg.
Police said seven of the train's nine carriages derailed about 60km north of the city, near Rosedale.
The train was travelling from Brisbane to Cairns when the accident happened.
The cause of the accident was not known, police said.
A hotline has been set up for relatives and friends seeking information about the crash on 1800 100 188.
The Tilt Train has been in service since 1998 and can travel at speeds of up to 160kph.
Three services run between Brisbane and Cairns each week.
The Tilt Train can cover the 620km trip between Brisbane and Rockhampton, about a third of the way to Cairns, in about seven hours.
Trains that tilt can go up to 40 per cent faster around curves than conventional trains.
"About 12.15 (AEST) the train was going from Brisbane to Cairns and it's derailed about 10 minutes north of Rosedale," a police spokeswoman told ABC radio.
"Seven of nine cars have come off the tracks and emergency services have been frantic this morning clearing all 157 passengers, as well as seven crew, from the train.
"There are dozens of people being treated for injuries and one person has been airlifted this morning to Bundaberg in a serious condition.
"Those with less serious injuries are being treated at the scene, or transported by coaches ... as well as multiple ambulances. They are going to hospitals in Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Gladstone."
She said there were no fatalities.
Dr John Scott, the chief of operations with Queensland Health, said 17 people had received "significant" injuries.
"Fortunately, considering that we had about 160 people on the train, we've only got about 17 people who have been significantly injured, and of those only about two that are seriously injured," Dr Scott told ABC radio.
"We've got a variety of injuries, mostly rib injuries, spinal injuries, abrasions. We've got one fractured limb, and some abdominal injuries."
Queensland Rail chief executive Bob Scheuber said it was not known if the train was travelling at full speed when it derailed.
"We don't know what speed, yet, the train was doing, but there is a black box recorder on the train and of course that will be one of the key pieces of information that the ATSB will want to look at in determining the cause," he told ABC radio.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be fully investigating the cause of the accident.
Mr Scheuber said the train was on a good quality section of track when it derailed.
"It was on a 150kph section (of track). It's good quality track ... it's heavy duty rail," he said.
He said emergency services had difficulty getting to victims in the fourth carriage of the train.
"Initially we had difficulty getting into ... the fourth car to get everyone out," he said.
"But that was the only issue in terms of trying to get people off the train."