NSW train drivers want the XPT slowed down on the problem-plagued North East line.
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But RailCorp, which operates the passenger train between Melbourne and Sydney, said engineers, not drivers were the best judge of track conditions and accepts the existing speed limits.
The NSW train drivers union is the latest group to join the chorus of discontent over the state of the track.
From Monday V/Line placed a 60km/h speed restriction on a 70-kilometre stretch of the track between Seymour and Violet Town because of the worsening state of the line.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation, which normally sets the limits, says the track is capable of 80km/h.
The train would normally run at 110km/h to 115km/h.
Yesterday NSW Rail Union’s Bob Hayden urged Countrylink to follow V/Line’s example.
“Why is it good for one and not for the other on the same track?’ he said on ABC radio’s AM program
“I mean, you could understand if they were running on a different section of track in the same area.
“But no, it’s the same track and Countrylink has just not seen fit to drop the speed of their services.”
But a RailCorp spokesman said engineers, not drivers, were the best judges of track conditions.
“CountryLink follows the advice of the Australian Rail Track Corporation on track speed restrictions,” he said.
“Drivers do drive to the conditions but it is our view that the corporation engineers are in the best position to make a judgement about where speed restrictions will be imposed and why.”
But a regular train driver on the North East line yesterday said conditions continue to worsen.
The driver said in one stretch closer to Melbourne at least five new speed restrictions had been imposed due to new mud holes.
Meanwhile it has also been revealed that some of the workers involved in re-routing a near-full V/Line train onto the wrong track near Seymour last week have been stood down.
The train stopped 20 metres short of a work gang after emergency brakes were deployed.
Transport Safety Victoria told ABC Local Radio the problem was caused by human error.