The crash occurred about 12.03am on December 9 when the load on train 2MP9 struck a timber pylon of an over-rail bridge on Paxton Street.

The train was transporting Maxitrans skeletal road trailers in piggyback configuration.

The investigation found that during the journey, one of the upper road trailers shifted laterally by almost two metres, striking the Paxton Street bridge as the train passed beneath.

The report said authorities closed the bridge, assessed it for safety and cleared it for normal traffic.

After being alerted to the load shift and crash, the rail operator made arrangements to remove the road trailer load.

Train 2MP9 subsequently departed Great Western at 12.05am and continued its journey to Perth.

The bureau found that, based on recorded data from wayside monitoring systems and the condition of the wagon’s side bearers, it was likely the wagon carrying the shifted load was ‘hunting’ (swaying dangerously).

The bureau found the hunting motion would be expected to increase the lateral forces on the load restraints.

“Compounding this, (train operator) SCT’s freight loading procedures did not specifically provide for the effective restraint and securement of commercial road transport vehicles for transportation on rail vehicles,” the report stated.

“Terminal staff responsible for securing and checking the load were not fully aware of the load securement requirements documented in the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board ‘Code of practice for the loading of rail freight’.

The bureau said SCT Logistics had issued a safety alert to all its managers and supervisors, reminding them of the freight loading code of practice requirements and instructing that only qualified and-or experienced staff were to perform the loading task.

The company has also addressed the mandatory replacement of wagon side bearers in accordance with the manufacturer’s service bulletin.