Page:ATSB RO-2018-004 - Collision of passenger train A42 with buffer stop.pdf/14



An eight-car Waratah set has a seated-passenger capacity of 896. The train width is 3035 mm, the height is 4410 mm, and each car is approximately 20 m in length. The total length of the train is approximately 163 m. It has a tare mass of approximately 407 t, a gross mass of 558 t. The Waratah was designed to be able to be operated at 130 km/h, although its maximum speed is restricted to 115 km/h. The train has a regenerative braking system with blended electro-pneumatic wheel-mounted disc brakes. The bodies of the cars are stainless steel with composite train ends.

The previous 30-day train examination was conducted on 27 December 2017 and the train was deemed fit for service. The train preparation certificate for A42 issued by Downer at the Auburn Maintenance Facility on 22 January 2018 stated the train was functioning as designed, and found the train fit for service.

The track structure between East Richmond and Richmond consisted of 60 kg/m rail fastened to concrete sleepers with a bed of rock ballast. The track approaching Richmond Station had a falling gradient of 1:77 from about the RD 5 signal to just past the start of Platform 1, where the track grade transitioned to 1:660 into the buffer stop.

Track inspections showed no evidence of obvious track defects or misalignments. The track geometry measurements carried out before and after the collision found the track to be within tolerances and of sound alignment.