A probe into a freight train derailment has found the track manager failed to identify that the line would flood.
One worker was injured when water washed away ballast under the track, leaving one locomotive in a paddock and 16 carriages jackknifed at Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour in NSW, in February 2021.
The Pacific National train had been carrying dangerous goods and an estimated 8000 litres of diesel leaked out into environment.
The line was shut down for nine days as emergency services cleared the wreck.
The Office of the Transport Safety Investigations found track manager Australian Rail Track Corporation did not adequately identify or address the risk of flooding along and around the rail corridor.
Its report released on Tuesday also took aim at relying on email to notify workers about weather alerts.
It said both the track manager and Pacific National had not provided crew with guidance about how to respond to extreme wet weather events or floodwater in the area.
“There was no guidance for when trains should stop or report if there was water on the track formation, covering the ballast, sleepers or the rail,” chief investigator Natalie Pelham said.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation has since installed more than 20 remote weather stations along the corridor, will assess track that needs to be upgraded or replaced, and has committed to other safety measures.
“(The corporation) is confident that these measures will help make our network more resilient and prepared to face more extreme weather events in the future,” a spokesman said in a statement.
Pacific National has been approached for comment.
Australian Associated Press