Passengers forced to brace for impact as V/Line train derails in central Victoria
Passengers were forced to brace for impact on Wednesday morning as their V/Line train collided with a truck and then derailed in regional Victoria.
Safety investigators are probing what caused the crash, which left two experienced drivers in hospital.
The collision happened on the Midland Highway near Bendigo-Murchison Road in Goornong, near Bendigo in central Victoria, just after 8am.
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Passengers were forced to brace for impact on Wednesday morning as their V/Line train collided with a truck and then derailed in regional Victoria. 9News
The truck driver, a man in his 60s, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
He was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with head injuries.
The train driver, a woman in her 40s, has suffered minor injuries and has been taken to Bendigo Hospital.
About 40 passengers were on the train. None are believed to have been injured.
"I was looking out the window, I saw the truck coming and I just braced myself cause you could see we were going to collide," one passenger said.
"I just felt a lurch and just about found myself in the seat in front," another person said.
The passengers were picked up by Melbourne-bound buses.
The train was the 7.16am train from Echuca to Southern Cross.
Victoria Police Inspector Brett Sampson said it was an "absolute relief" that there had not been any major injuries.
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Safety investigators are probing what caused the crash, which left two experienced drivers in hospital. 9News
He said it was very fortunate that the train had not overturned when it derailed.
Inspector Sampson said the incident served as a reminder for drives to be vigilant,
"You need to be focused and disciplined when you're driving, and ensure that you are looking both ways when crossing an intersection," he said.
V/Line chief executive Matt Carrick thanked the passengers for their patience and understanding.
"We're making sure that our driver ah, and our conductor ah, get the support structures around them for what is a very traumatic incident," he said.
"We thank Echuca line passengers for their patience while we work to get them to their destination as quickly and safely as possible following an incident at Goornong."
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator will conduct a full investigation into the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage or information about it is urged to contact police.
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