INCIDENT SLOWS TRAINS

V/LINE has further reduced speed limits near Marshall Station, as a national authority investigates the second dangerous incident in the area within three years.

The new measures have been introduced after two trains came within about 900m of a head-on collision on the single rail-line between Mar- shall and South Geelong earlier this month.

“The factors contributing to the (January 2) incident will be determined following an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau,” a V/ Line spokeswoman said.

“In the meantime, we have further reduced the speed of trains travelling through the section near Marshall Station and are looking at other safety improvements.”

The crew of the wrong-way train would have been tested for drugs and alcohol within three hours.

While declaring it has a “zero-tolerance policy” to drugs and alcohol, V/Line said it would not comment on the results of the testing due to the ongoing inquiry.

It is the second investigation ATSB has carried out in the area since 2015, following a potentially fatal event at a level crossing. Several initiatives were introduced to minimise risk in the area following that May, 2015 incident.

“Measures included reducing the train speed in the section and making improvements to driver training,” the spokeswoman said.

The incident saw an inexperienced driver, who was on his first unsupervised shift, let an empty-cars train pass a stop signal.

It saw the braking train travel through a level crossing about 140m beyond Marshall station at Marshalltown Rd.

While the warning devices weren’t activated, there were no injuries or damage as no motorists were using the crossing.

Despite earlier passing a caution signal, the driver had approached the station at a speed that topped 100km/h.

The incidents have occurred against a backdrop of political debate about the need to duplicate the rail track from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds.

Detailed planning and design work on the project’s business case is expected to be completed by July. The State Government set aside $110 million in last year’s budget for the first stage of a rail extension to Torquay, which will prepare the corridor for duplication to Waurn Ponds.