Laurie Wilson, Manager, Infrastructure & Engineering, RISSB joins us for an in-depth look at the nature and significance of derailments in Australia. He discusses the progress made over the last decade and the opportunities that exist to learn from investigations in order to improve the system and ensure rail remains one of the safest forms of transport.

1. Q&A Session: Derailments in Australia
Laurie Wilson, Manager, Infrastructure & Engineering, RISSB joins us for an in-depth look at the nature and
significance of derailments in Australia. He discusses the progress made over the last decade and the opportunities that
exist to learn from investigations in order to improve the system and ensure rail remains one of the safest forms of transport.
Over the Christmas break, there was mainstream media coverage of the dramatic train
derailment north of Katherine caused by flash flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Grant. How
common are derailments in Australia?
Not all derailments are as dramatic as the one reported widely
over Christmas. Derailments occur around Australia at a less
alarming rate than they used to. Rail organisations have been
working and investing in safety systems and education in the last
decade or so. The professionalism of investigators is getting to be
of a higher standard and safety management systems provide a
high degree of guidance for operators. Safety standards have and
are being continuously developed and reviewed to ensure that the
Katherine freight train derailment chances of derailments are significantly reduced and managed.
Source: ABC TV
How common are derailments? ATSB receives and produces
the data for the industry and the data is published on the website and is
accessible to everyone. In numbers alone the data shows a trend down "data shows a trend down
through the first 75% of the previous decade. The numbers have started to through the first 75% of the
increase slightly since 2008. This could be to the return of the wet previous decade… rail remains
weather, increases in temperatures or other impacts. This is also reflected one of the safest forms of
passenger transport”
when the numbers are normalized against the number of rail kilometers
traveled. Only a very small percentage of derailments occur on the
passenger networks around Australia as the safety systems and standards are very high. This
ensures rail remains one of the safest forms of passenger transport.
BITRE’s 2003 report on ‘Rail Accident Costs in Australia’ estimated that derailments
accounted for about 37% of all rail accidents in Australia and property costs due to
derailments totaled just under $30million. Given the growth of rail traffic in the last decade
and that property costs are not the only costs of derailments, what is the significance
caused by derailments?
The BITRE report identified quite correctly that it has always been difficult to obtain accurate
cost capture and analysis due to the different reporting and accounting systems utilised in the
various rail organisations. Organisations capture data for what they require and that may not be
the information that is required for the BITRE type report.
Above rail costs, below rail costs or a combination of both… If
"The real significance of derailments is
the failure of the system” you look at infrastructure costs from derailment damage you
will find not all repairs or replacements are captured against
the actual incident. The track is usually repaired to a level of
RISSB National Derailment Investigations and Analysis Workshop 20-21 February 2012, Hotel Realm Canberra
RISSB National Derailment Investigations Workshop: Practical investigation and analysis
22 – 24 February 2012 | Kingston Rail Station/Museum, Canberra
www.informa.com.au/derailments

2. safety that allows the movement of trains. The organization then
"The benefits from this failure provide may conduct further repairs and improvements at a later date or
the opportunity to learn… and improve over a period of time as finance and/or resources become
the system to ensure similar
occurrences are eliminated or the
available. A large component of the 2003 report was based on
likelihood of recurrence is reduced” averaging and estimates due to this situation.
The real significance of derailments is the failure of the system. The
benefits from this failure provide the opportunity to learn from it and improve the system to
ensure similar occurrences are eliminated or the likelihood of recurrence is reduced. The
National Derailment Investigation and Analysis workshop to be held in February will assist in this.
Who is responsible for investigating derailments in Australia?
This question is not an easy question to answer in this type of forum. As most people are aware
significant changes are taking place in this area with the appointment of the National
Investigator. This basically provides an extension to the existing ATSB investigative jurisdiction -
expanding from the DIRN to all rail networks. The ATSB however only takes on the larger scale
occurrences that may have significant learning that can improve the rail industry as a whole.
They only investigate a small percentage of the overhaul number.
Each individual rail operator/manager is responsible for undertaking "The level of investigation and the
an investigation into every occurrence. The level of investigation detail of the investigation and report
vary according to the size/impact of
and the detail of the investigation and report vary according to the
the occurrence”
size/impact of the occurrence. This varies from a brief notification of
an event and outcome to a full detailed investigation and analysis
that results in a significant report with findings and recommendations that impact on the
industry. The government provides the information required to industry through the Act and
regulations. All rail organisations incorporate this information into their Safety Management
Systems, Policies, Standards and Procedures.
Is there a template for derailment reports?
The ARA in conjunction with RISSB and the major rail organisations developed a National
Code of Practice (NCOP) for rail safety investigations. This was released in 2006 and is still
applicable today. The NCOP contains information on good practice investigation
methodologies and also a number of tools to assist rail safety investigators. The NCOP also
contains an Investigations Reporting Template. Investigators usually modify this to suit
specific occurrences such as derailments. The ATSB and OTSI also have some publications
that provide relevant information to assist Rail Safety Investigators.
What happens to the data after a report is issued? Is the data on derailments in
Australia easily available and/or shared within the industry?
The ATSB compiles an annual report that covers all reported rail occurrences. The data is
useful but more is required to ensure that reporting is consistent across all states and
organisations. The major investigative reports undertaken by the
ATSB and state regulators are published on their websites. Individual
rail organisations investigative reports and findings are usually kept in "Individual rail organisations
investigative reports and findings are
house and not circulated publically. This is a lost opportunity for the usually kept in house and not
rail industry in general to learn from others. This is tending to circulated publically. This is a lost
improve with the better quality of reports identifying the root causes opportunity...”
and contributing factors and staying clear of the blame game.
RISSB National Derailment Investigations and Analysis Workshop 20-21 February 2012, Hotel Realm Canberra
RISSB National Derailment Investigations Workshop: Practical investigation and analysis
22 – 24 February 2012 | Kingston Rail Station/Museum, Canberra
www.informa.com.au/derailments

3. RISSB’s inaugural two day National Derailment Investigations and Analysis
Workshop will bring together rail operators, track owners, researchers and
regulators. What do you hope this mix of safety and track personnel will achieve?
The rail industry is seeing some significant growth at present. Skilled rail safety practitioners
are a critical contributor to ensure this growth is undertaken without a decrease in safety.
The rail safety practitioners have less and less time to undertake research and this includes
time available to review reports to identify learning from rail
occurrences outside of their own organisations. My hope is that "this workshop will provide them with a
this workshop will provide them with a large amount of information large amount of information on lessons
on lessons learned in a short period of time. They will then be able learned in a short period of time”
to evaluate what can be adopted to potentially improve their
systems and processes without having to have the occurrence
themselves. The workshop will bring together a large group of likeminded people that will
be able to discuss issues and potential solutions.
Also participating is Mike McLoughlin of XD Rail UK. What will Mike’s involvement
bring to the workshop?
Mike has had extensive involvement in derailment research and investigation for more years
than most. He has been involved in judicial inquiries representing different parties in various
derailments in the UK. Mike has been coming to Australia since 1999 providing his expert advice
to potential and current derailment investigators. I would say that Mike is the “Investigators
investigator” with a depth and breadth of knowledge that most of us can only aspire to have. He
constantly challenges investigators to stretch the boundaries of their thinking.
Following this workshop, RISSB is holding a three day practical investigation and
analysis course at the Kingston Railway Museum, Canberra during 22-24 February
2012. What is the rationale for this course and what are the benefits of running this
course at the Museum?
The key to all improvements to safety is to learn as much as you can from any occurrences that
you have. Derailments are a very specific rail industry phenomenon. Rail is a guided system - a
derailment is a loss of this guidance. This means it is a significant event for the rail industry. It is
critical that rail safety investigators correctly identify the mechanisms of derailment and the
contributing factors that caused the loss of guidance. The three day
course will provide the opportunity to gain and/or improve existing
knowledge and skills in this area. The Kingston Rail Museum yard
gives us safe access to rail and rollingstock that will maximise
attendees learning time. The infrastructure is in place and the Rail
Museum staff are very supportive of the event.
As the coordinator for the workshop and field course, what do
hope attendees will take back to the office with them? Canberra Railway Museum
Source: Australian Railway Historical Society
As the coordinator I am, on behalf of RISSB and the rail industry in
general, providing an opportunity to improve knowledge that should
either directly or indirectly improve safety through a reduction in derailment numbers and
with better investigation and analysis of occurrences in general. The attendees will take back
new ideas and solutions to apply in their relevant organisations.
RISSB National Derailment Investigations and Analysis Workshop 20-21 February 2012, Hotel Realm Canberra
RISSB National Derailment Investigations Workshop: Practical investigation and analysis
22 – 24 February 2012 | Kingston Rail Station/Museum, Canberra
www.informa.com.au/derailments