Such as the younger generation being involved in road trauma (ie: car accidents).

 Also, one should not worry – as one who not often travels by train that on a double-track line, such as Muswellbrook south, that a coal train – either empty or loaded – has a wagon that wants to leave the track. 

It begs the question, and not to pre-empt the reason, for the recent case at Kankool where maintenance either on the track or the wagons is at fault.

 It is of interest that the axle load of wagons has been increased to 30 tonnes, making a loaded weight of 120 tonnes per wagon and a gross train weighs exceeds 8000 tonnes. With multiple coal train movements per day, the track would require continual inspections and the wagon fleet mechanicals more stringent. 

This should be of concern to Pacific National and Australian Rail Track Corporation as these incidents are not as isolated as one would think. 

The repair to the track is reported to be in excess of $1 million , but the overall figure would be much higher, as the cost price of a coal wagon is $750,000 – just multiply this by 18 times. 

Putting all this aside, train travel is still the safest way to travel.

Colin Macpherson

Tamworth