The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has reported that it expressed safety concerns to Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) approximately 24 hours prior to a significant derailment incident involving one of its freight trains in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
Following the derailment of five wagons carrying cement at a level crossing in New Berrima on Saturday, SSR has been prohibited from operating for six weeks. The impact of this suspension on the overall freight train network remains uncertain, according to the union.
The derailment, which occurred at a level crossing, did not result in any injuries; however, it led to major traffic disruptions, necessitating the closure of Berrima Road until the following morning.
Holdco Holdings, operating as Southern Shorthaul Railroad, is the freight operator contracted by Boral for its cement works located near Moss Vale. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) suspended SSR’s accreditation on Sunday due to the incident, which will prevent the company from operating during the suspension period.
RTBU locomotive division secretary Farren Campbell expressed his support for the regulator’s decision, noting that a meeting took place between the union and SSR at 11 AM on the Friday before the derailment. This meeting addressed worker reports of insufficient training procedures, outdated equipment, and a detrimental workplace culture.
“We’ve refrained from saying ‘I told you so’ because it’s not about that,” Mr. Campbell remarked. “Our focus is on ensuring the safety standards of the NSW rail network are upheld and that the responsibility does not shift to the workers.”
In its statement, the ONRSR indicated that its decision was made after careful consideration and was prompted by a series of incidents involving SSR that raised concerns over safety risks if no action was taken. The Berrima derailment is part of a troubling pattern of safety issues linked to this operator that are currently under regulatory scrutiny.
SSR has been approached for a response regarding the incident.
The RTBU has highlighted that SSR is responsible for 20% of freight movements within the Sydney Trains Network. The union is also aware of two runaway incidents involving SSR earlier this year, including one instance where a worker had to board a moving train to halt it.
Mr. Campbell described the recent meeting with SSR as “cordial,” with intentions to reconvene to further discuss ongoing concerns. He also mentioned that other freight companies are stepping in to manage the workload left by SSR during its suspension. “Some other freight operators have been able to take on some of these volumes in the short term,” he stated. “A concerning outcome would be if these freight volumes were diverted to road transport.”
In response to the suspension of its freight train operator, Boral is exploring alternative transportation methods for its products from New Berrima. They clarified that the suspension does not affect the rail line itself, which is currently not operational, and expressed confidence in their ability to continue fulfilling customer demands.
Jesse Fitzpatrick, Mayor of Wingecarribee Shire Council, characterized the derailment as “very bizarre,” noting that local residents are aware that trains typically travel at very low speeds through that area. “It would be lucky if it was doing 5 kilometers per hour,” he stated, expressing concern from the community regarding the incident.
