The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its final investigation into a collision between a passenger train carrying approximately 300 people and a stranded B-double truck at the Bonemill Rd level crossing in Runcorn, Brisbane, on August 14, 2025.
Crash Sequence and Immediate Aftermath
The Queensland Rail Citytrain service travelling to Doomben slammed into the unloaded rear trailer of an immobilised truck. Six passengers were treated by paramedics for minor injuries, while the train driver, guard, and truck driver were unharmed.
The ATSB found the truck became stranded after a sudden air line failure between its A- and B-trailers. The rear trailer blocked the railway for four minutes and 24 seconds before the level crossing lights and boom gates activated. CCTV footage captured the truck driver repeatedly trying to move the immobilised vehicle as the boom gates descended, moments before the train struck.
Failure to Alert Authorities
Despite the truck driver's attempts to free the vehicle, neither the driver nor any witnesses called the Queensland Rail (QR) emergency number displayed at the crossing or triple-0, according to the ATSB. “As such, the QR Rail Management Centre personnel were not alerted to the emergency, and they were not prompted to monitor the closed-circuit television (CCTV), which showed the truck was visible on the level crossing,” the report stated. “Therefore, the network control officer was unaware of the track obstruction and could not warn the train crew and stop rail traffic.”
Visibility and Braking Factors
The ATSB also found that the colour of the stationary truck made it difficult for the train driver to distinguish it from the surrounding environment. However, investigators noted that the driver's emergency braking, combined with the truck being unloaded and stationary, likely reduced the severity of the collision.
The crash caused substantial damage to the train, the truck's rear trailer, and level crossing equipment.
Safety Recommendations and Response
Following the investigation, QR said it would review how it manages level crossings and work with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to improve safety and educate truck drivers. The ATSB emphasised that any vehicle becoming stuck on railway tracks should be treated as an emergency. “In the event of a vehicle becoming immobilised on a level crossing, the occupants should immediately move away from the vehicle and railway track,” the bureau said. “The next priority is to report the emergency, using either the signposted incident reporting number or triple-0.”
