Fix rail black spot now
TRUCKIES and transport unions have demanded an urgent audit of all rail crossings along the Bruce Highway amid fears frequent faults could cost more lives.
Regular drivers say the stretch of road where a fatal collision between the Cairns-bound tilt train and a semi-trailer occurred was a black spot that needed to be fixed.
Townsville train drivers Richard Wetherell and Michael Smithers were killed when their locomotive smashed into the truck, 20km south of Cardwell about 2.50pm on Thursday.
The 63-year-old truck driver was treated at Cairns Base Hospital for chest injuries.
Nine of the 81 train passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Tilt train driver Greg Hooper yesterday said the deaths of two "good blokes" had rocked the tight-knit group.
"We have what we call near misses on at least a monthly basis (at the Rungoo crossing)," Mr Hooper said.
He said Queensland Rail had been aware of problems at the crossing for many years.
Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees state secretary Greg Smith recalled near misses and another fatality some years ago on the "mongrel" crossing.
"This crossing was protected by lights and not boom gates, which is an issue we have been raising for some time," he said.
"Unfortunately it’s been on the boil that something tragic was going to happen."
Longtime Tully trucking company owner, Les Blennerhassett of Blenner’s Transport, said drivers considered the crossing dangerous and "unlike the one further north, it’s on the bend, on an angle".
QR chief executive officer Lance Hocking yesterday denied the crossing’s warning lights were faulty at the time of the collision.
He said the lights were checked at 8.30am on Thursday and were working normally.
Mr Hockridge said warning lights at a crossing 8km north of the crash scene were flashing continuously on "safe mode" on Thursday afternoon.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the State Government had completed plans for a road bridge over the rail line. He called for the $90 million federal contribution, available after July 1 next year, to be fast-tracked.
Share this article
Carnage: Police at the scene of Thursday's fatal collision between a semi-trailer and the Cairns-bound tilt train, in which two train drivers were killed. Pictures: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI
New Jetstar flights between Cairns and Osaka
THE re-introduction of Jetstar's four weekly direct services to Osaka in Japan and a doubling of flights to Melbourne from April 1 next year are the first significant announcements today by the airline as the result of a new agreement with Cairns Airport.
Kate earns National Pride Medal
INSPIRING young leader and cancer survivor Kate Smith could hardly believe she won a national Pride of Australia medal last night.
Escapee back in custody
BREAKING NEWS: Police have found a man who escaped from police custody at Ravenshoe on Sunday night.
Woman watched boyfriend bash, strip tourist
THE girlfriend of a man accused of raping and attempting to rape two foreign tourists at a Cairns caravan park says she watched him bash and strip one of them then chase after her.
