Two people are dead and dozens are injured after Sydney to Melbourne train with 160 passengers on board DERAILS – as commuters describe the terrifying moment their carriage overturned
- Two people confirmed dead after an express passenger train from Sydney to Melbourne derailed in Victoria
- It is believed the express train derailed about 7.50pm 47km north of Melbourne close to the town of Wallan
- Ambulance Victoria said ‘large number of people’ also being assessed but not thought to be severely injured
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Two people have died after a train from Sydney to Melbourne derailed with 160 passengers on board.
The XPT train – which can reach speeds of up to 160km/h – came off the tracks just before 8pm close to the town of Wallan, 50km north of Melbourne.
Victoria Police said two people died at the scene when five carriages derailed, with one of those dead believed to be the driver.
Another person has been airlifted to Melbourne and a triage centre has been set up nearby at a BP petrol station.
One passenger reported the carriages crumpling when the train derailed, but said most people were able to walk off the train by themselves.
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Two people have died after a train from Sydney to Melbourne derailed with 160 passengers on board. The Sydney-Melbourne express train is pictured with one carriage lying on its side
One passenger reported the carriages crumpling when the train derailed and items going ‘flying’ including tray tables
All passengers who were able to walk from the train have been taken to the Wallan McDonald’s and the BP Truckstore area being used as a triage centre
The Australian Safety Transport Bureau said passengers had been injured in the incident, but were unable to say how many.
‘Fortunately only a few people injured in our carriage,’ the passenger Dr Scott Rickard wrote on Twitter.
‘Stuff flew everywhere. Carriages crumpled at edges. We walked out. Most people able to walk out.
‘We’re in a bit of shock, but OK. Drinking cuppas now.’
Another passenger told The Age the derailment lasted about a minute from the moment the train left the tracks to when it came to a halt.
Luggage is pictured strewn across railway tracks after the train from Sydney to Melbourne derailed on Thursday evening
Passengers are pictured after the train derailed. As well as the two dead, one person has also been airlifted to Melbourne.
‘People were tossing around … there was some screaming – everyone was just grasping on, some in the brace position, preparing for the possibility of something worse,’ the passenger Rob Jennings said.
When the train finally stopped, he said passengers who were mostly unscathed by the derailment tried to free the driver – while others tried in vain to smash the windows of their carriage
Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were treating ‘a number of people’ at the scene and Northern Health hospital in Epping, northern Melbourne, is preparing for the arrival of those injured.
Pictures taken at the scene showed one of the train’s carriages on its side and luggage lying on the railway tracks.
Police and fire emergency services are pictured at the scene. At least three helicopters have been deployed to a scene described by the Country Fire Service as ‘very chaotic at this stage’
A triage centre has been set up nearby following the derailment which happened about 7.50pm on Thursday evening
The rail lines between Melbourne and Sydney have been closed.
At least three helicopters have been deployed to a scene the Country Fire Authority described as ‘very chaotic at this stage’.
All passengers who were able to walk from the train have been taken to the Wallan McDonald’s and the BP Truckstore area being used as a triage centre.
More to come