NSW:
Glenbrook inquiry
News coverage 14 Feb - 18 Feb

The inquiry into the accident at Glenbrook NSW opened in Sydney on Monday February 14, 2000. The inquiry is headed by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Peter McInerney

Collision between a CityRail commuter train and the 'Indian Pacific' on 2 December 1999

has The terms of reference for the inquiry require it not only to examine the causes of the accident and but also to look into risk management and the response of the emergency services. The inquiry will also look at ''safety improvements to rail operations which the inquiry considers necessary''.

Latest reports

Indian Pacific co-driver gives evidence at Glenbrook inquiry
ABC 17 Feb 2000

The co-driver of the Indian Pacific train involved in a crash in the Blue Mountains in December, says he felt "a huge shunt from the rear" when a Cityrail train hit it from behind.
David Willoughby is giving evidence at the Glenbrook rail inquiry in Sydney.

Rail crash inquiry hears from co-driver
ABC 17 Feb 2000

The co-driver of the Indian Pacific train involved in a fatal collision last year says he did not think about the train following behind, after his train was delayed.
David Willoughby was giving evidence at the Glenbrook Rail Accident Inquiry in Sydney.

Breakdown of equipment may have contributed to train crash
Excite 16 Feb 2000

The breakdown of two crucial pieces of communications equipment could have contributed to the Glenbrook rail disaster, a special inquiry into the accident was told today.
Indian Pacific passenger train co-driver David Willoughby told the inquiry the locomotive's phone could not make outgoing calls.
Mr Willoughby said that after the train passed a second faulty red signal at Glenbrook, he had tried to contact the Penrith signal box via the track-side phone.
The push-to-call button was missing on the trackside phone and Mr Willoughby was unable to report the second faulty signal.

Rail crash inquiry hears backup system lacking
ABC 16 Feb 2000

The Glenbrook Rail Inquiry has heard that the removal of the manual signal box at the station left no backup system for checking the train lines within that section.
The station master at Glenbrook Station, William Higgins, is facing cross-examination today at the inquiry into last December's fatal collision.

Missing signal box key to tragedy
Sydney Morning Herald 16 Feb 2000

A crucial signal box that could have prevented the Glenbrook rail disaster was removed by the State Rail Authority in the mid 1990s, the Special Commission of Inquiry was told yesterday.
It heard that the signal box and indicator board would have shown that the Indian Pacific had stopped ahead of the inter-urban train from Lithgow, potentially saving the lives of seven people and injuries to 51 others. Instead, the sections of track leading into and out of Glenbrook Station were "blind", controlled by an automatic signalling system that gave no indication to signal staff at Penrith where trains were travelling or if they had stopped.

Manual signal system may have averted rail crash: witness
ABC 15 Feb 2000

The Glenbrook rail inquiry has heard that the deaths of seven people might have been averted if the old manual signalling system had still been in place.
The inquiry has heard evidence from the station master at Glenbrook railway station, William Higgins.

Inquiry hears Glenbrook drivers could not communicate
Excite 14 Feb 2000

The drivers of the two trains involved in the Glenbrook rail disaster had no means of communicating directly with each other, the special commission of inquiry into the accident heard today. Seven people died and 51 were injured in a collision between the Indian Pacific and a commuter train 400 metres from Glenbrook Station in the New South Wales Blue Mountains on December 2 last year.

Rail crash probe hears of communication failure
ABC 14 Feb 2000

The Glenbrook rail inquiry has been told that the drivers involved in last December's fatal collision were unable to communicate directly with each other.
The driver of the Indian Pacific had a satellite phone and a mobile. His counterpart on the Intercity passenger train used two-way radio.

Glenbrook driver allowed to go through red light - inquiry
Excite 14 Feb 2000

The driver of the intercity train involved in the Glenbrook rail disaster was given permission to go through a red signal light shortly before the accident, tapes played to the inquiry into the accident revealed today.
Driver Kevin Sinnet contacted the Penrith signal box requesting instructions on what to do when he reached faulty signal 41.6, which was showing a red light.

The Glenbrook rail inquiry has been told that the drivers involved in last December's fatal collision were unable to communicate directly with each other.
The driver of the Indian Pacific had a satellite phone and a mobile. His counterpart on the Intercity passenger train used two-way radio.

Rail crash inquiry hears third train nearby
ABC 14 Feb 2000

The Glenbrook rail accident inquiry in New South Wales has heard that a third train was some 60 seconds away from the collision site when urgent warnings were issued.
The inquiry is also hearing tape recordings of conversations between signallers and rail controllers in the minutes before the fatal collision last December.

Earlier Story

Glenbrook tragedy inquiry
14 Feb 2000