A NORTH East resident is demanding train tracks be improved before they “kill somebody”.
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Steve Hartnell made the comments after finding two shipping containers beside the railway tracks next to the Hume Freeway between Wangaratta and Springhurst.
Mr Hartnell was at home when he heard a freight train pass by and he said the sound had been a concern.
“There was something wrong with it,” he said.
“It was making a hell of a noise.”
The next day Mr Hartnell found the two shipping containers, which were 40 foot and 20 foot long, unattached from the freight train.
He said the incident could have had a very dangerous outcome and people could be hurt as a result.
“It’s lucky they didn’t land on the other railway line,” he said.
“If it hit another train it would have been very bad news.”
Mr Hartnell believed the track could have played a part in the incident.
“The railway track is very rough and they are going to kill somebody sooner or later and it’s just unacceptable,” he said.
Wangaratta police said they had received more than 50 reports from people about the shipping containers that came loose from the freight train.
Police said there were no injuries but said the incident could have put people in danger.
It was not an issue police believed to be common.
A report was also lodged to the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
"Australian Rail Track Corporation can confirm that two containers did come off a northbound freight train late Friday afternoon between Springhurst and Wangaratta,” a spokesman said.
“How it ended up in its location within the rail corridor is unclear and is being investigated by the rail operator and Australian Rail Track Corporation.”
The spokesman said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had also been advised of the incident.
”Operations have been continuing as normal through this location and no other services have been affected by this incident,” he said.