NEW FOOTAGE RELEASED: TRUCK DRIVER SEEN FRANTICALLY TRYING TO ESCAPE AS PASSENGER TRAIN BEARS DOWN ON BRISBANE CROSSING – ATSB REPORT REVEALS CHILLING FINAL SECONDS
A final investigation report has laid bare the moments leading up to a frightening crash between a passenger train carrying about 300 people and a stranded B-double truck in Brisbane.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Thursday released its final report into the August 14, 2025 collision, when a Queensland Rail Citytrain service travelling to Doomben slammed into the unloaded rear trailer of an immobilised truck at the Bonemill Rd level crossing at Runcorn
Six passengers were treated by paramedics for minor injuries. The train driver, guard and truck driver were not physically injured.
The ATSB found the truck became stranded after a sudden air line failure between its A- and B-trailers.
Its rear trailer blocked the railway for four minutes and 24 seconds before the level crossing lights and boom gates activated.
Dramatic ATSB footage captured the frantic moments before the collision, showing the truck driver repeatedly trying to move the immobilised B-double as the boom gates descended.
Seconds later, the passenger train slammed into the rear trailer, sending it off the tracks with a narrow escape for the driver.
Despite repeated attempts by the truck driver to move the vehicle, neither the driver nor witnesses called the Queensland Rail (QR) emergency number displayed at the crossing or triple-0, the ATSB found.
“As such, the QR Rail Management Centre personnel were not alerted to the emergency, and they were not prompted to monitor the closed-circuit television (CCTV), which showed the truck was visible on the level crossing,” the report said.
“Therefore, the network control officer was unaware of the track obstruction and could not warn the train crew and stop rail traffic.”
The ATSB also found the colour of the stationary truck made it difficult for the train driver to distinguish it from the surrounding environment.
However, investigators said the driver’s emergency braking, combined with the truck being unloaded and stationary, likely reduced the severity of the collision.
The crash caused substantial damage to the train, the truck’s rear trailer and level crossing equipment.
Following the investigation, QR said it would review how it manages level crossings and work with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to improve safety and educate truck drivers.
The ATSB said any vehicle becoming stuck on railway tracks should be treated as an emergency.
“In the event of a vehicle becoming immobilised on a level crossing, the occupants should immediately move away from the vehicle and railway track,” the bureau said.
“The next priority is to report the emergency, using either the signposted incident reporting number or triple-0.”
Queensland Rail’s Head of SEQ Neil Backer echoed the ATSB’s findings about the critical need to immediately report any obstruction over railway tracks.
“The newly released CCTV footage of the moment a passenger train collided with a B-double truck that was obstructing railway tracks is a stark reminder of the importance of staying safe around level crossings,” Backer said.
“The incident reporting signage at the Runcorn level crossing includes a 24-hour emergency phone number directly connected to our Rail Management Centre, which has the ability to immediately stop rail traffic.
“That number is 1800 079 303. If you see an emergency on our railway, please use this number immediately to let us know or you can call triple-0.
“Queensland Rail is also extremely proud of the actions of the highly experienced traincrew, as the ATSB found the train driver’s actions of applying emergency braking and the associated emergency procedures likely reduced the severity of the collision.”
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/footage-released-as-atsb-report-examines-passenger-train-crash-with-truck-at-brisbane-level-crossing-c-22483698
