Back on track: BHP iron ore train services recommence in WA
BHP's iron ore train services are back up and running after about 130 people spent the week clearing the wreckage and repairing the track after a train deliberately derailed on route to Port Hedland earlier this week.
The runaway BHP train, consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons filled with iron ore, has caused headaches ever since last week's derailment.
The incident meant a substantial clean-up bill for BHP operations, and a disruption to iron ore shipments out of WA.
On Sunday, a BHP spokeswoman said the service was now back on track.
"The wreckage from the site was cleared from the tracks on Friday and track repair work is progressing well," she said.
"Rail operations recommenced last night with additional controls in place to ensure safe operations.”
A regulatory investigation is ongoing, and controls on board the trains have been risk assessed.
The investigation will attempt to understand what happened after the driver left the train to inspect an issue with an ore car.
While the driver was off the train, it began moving. Every safety mechanism on the train failed as it hurtled driverless through the Pilbara desert.
Over 50 minutes, it travelled 92 kilometres at an average speed of 110km/h.
Finally, at 5.30am, BHP's remote operations centre in Perth deliberately derailed it near Turner’s Siding, an isolated section of the track 120km south of Port Hedland.
With Hamish Hastie
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