This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Authorities purposely derailed a driverless runaway train as it neared the heart of Devonport, sending debris flying that injured two people.

The train was loaded with tonnes of cement and travelling at about 50km/h when multiple carriages left the tracks on the north Tasmanian city’s waterfront just after 9am on Friday.

The TasRail freight train struck nearby fences, the source of the flying debris that injured the passersby.

Police Inspector Stuart Wilkinson said emergency service crews tried to warn the public about the runaway train.

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“We had all our police vehicles deployed with lights and sirens. That obviously indicated to people there was an issue (but) they wouldn’t have been aware the train was going to derail basically in front of them,” he told reporters.

“Given the timing, it was very difficult to get people in place and clear that area.

“It wasn’t clear to us where the train would derail, only that ... it would, and it would be around the area of the wharf.”

The train was out of control for only a short time after becoming “unsteady” near the Devonport silos, minutes before the derailment, Insp Wilkinson said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The train was travelling about 50km/h when it derailed. Photograph: Lee Dixon/PR IMAGE

“The train hit a derailment mechanism, and jumped into the air and it came to a stop very quickly and the procedure was very effective.

“Unfortunately it did come across about a 30m stretch of walking track ... and unfortunately there were two people at that spot.”

Pieces of fencing hit a woman in her 20s in the head and a man in his 40s has a suspected broken limb and cuts, police said.

“We’re very fortunate they’re not seriously injured,” Insp Wilkinson said. “If the train had gone on, that potentially could have been far more serious.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed it will investigate why the train lost control.

“The ATSB’s safety investigation will include an examination of the locomotive and wagons, interview witnesses, and obtain any available recorded data for analysis, amongst other activities,” a spokesman said.

TasRail representatives are helping investigators, the state infrastructure minister, Jeremy Rockliff, said.

“A full investigation will be carried out to ascertain exactly the cause and what actions are required to prevent this happening again,” he said.

Emergency crews are expected to remain at the scene into Saturday.