On 27 December, torrential rain caused flooding which derailed a freight train operated by Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA) in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The train was derailed approximately 40 km north of Katherine, Northern Territory, in flood waters on the Edith River resulting from isolated, heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Grant.
The freight train spilled toxic copper concentrate into the Edith River.
On the evening of Dec. 28, the rear portion of the train, unaffected in the derailment, was returned to Katherine, and the delayed freight cars were made available to customers for transport to Darwin upon the reopening of the Stuart Highway, also affected by the flood, the following evening.
GWA and the relevant authorities moved quickly to establish the towns of Katherine and Alice Springs as freight hubs to facilitate the movement of goods to Darwin, and GWA has provided additional resources to these locations to support operations.
Due to the remoteness of the area, the accident site could not be accessed by road until Friday, Dec. 30.
Preliminary assessments of the site and work required to repair the damage suggest the railroad segment between Katherine and Darwin will be out of service until the end of January.
Access roads into the site have been constructed, and GWA has sourced equipment and personnel to undertake the necessary recovery and repairs to the rail infrastructure.
The incident is subject to an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
GWA is actively engaged with the ATSB and accordingly ‘will not comment on the possible causes of the derailment or further details of the incident until the investigation has concluded’.
The driver, who had non life-threatening injuries, was flown to Darwin hospital following the incident, has since been released and is at home recovering.
Environmental inspectors are investigating the copper concentrate spill.
NT Environment Department chief executive Jim Grant said copper concentrate ‘is recognised as an environmental hazard and is a threat to aquatic life, but that although it contains arsenic and silica it is not rated as highly toxic’.
