Updated April 06, 2020 22:05:35

A preliminary report into a fatal train crash northeast of Perth on Christmas Eve has found the driver was responsive and tried multiple times to stop before ploughing into a stationary grain train.

The Pacific National freight train hit the back of a CBH grain train at Jumperkine, along the Avon River east of Perth, in the early hours of December 24.

The driver of the freight train died in the accident, while the driver of the stationary train was unharmed.

The report, released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), found the driver of the freight train passed a yellow caution signal in the minutes before the crash, as well as a sign indicating a speed restriction ahead.

Photo: The wreckage was strewn across multiple train tracks. (ABC News)

At the time, the driver had acknowledged the engine's vigilance alert system — a device which must receive a response to ensure the driver is not incapacitated.

The report said in this class of locomotive, the device would have raised an "audible and visual alarm" in the cabin if it was not acknowledged.

Seconds later, the driver passed a red stop signal at more than 70 kilometres per hour.

The driver applied the train's service brake before a sweeping left-hand curve, reducing speed toward a straight stretch of track.

The driver then applied the emergency brake when investigators believe the rear of the stationary train came into view.

"At this point, [the freight train] was travelling at 59kph and was about 175 metres from the rear of [the grain train]," the report said.

Photo: The wreckage of the crashed trains could be clearly seen from the air. (ABC News)

A railway network controller had tried to call the driver before the crash via radio, but the driver never responded.

The report said the crash happened about 13 seconds after the application of the emergency brake.

"While train speed had further reduced following the emergency brake application, the collision speed was still above 40kph," the report said.

"The lead locomotive cabin was damaged with a significant amount of grain entering the locomotive cabin.

"The driver sustained fatal injuries."

The ATSB investigation is ongoing and will now review the functionality of braking controls and vigilance systems on board the train.

It will also look at factors affecting human performance, including fatigue and rostering, and toxicology analysis of the driver.

Topics: rail, accidents, disasters-and-accidents, perth-6000, upper-swan-6069, wa

First posted April 06, 2020 19:15:05