Investigations into the cause of the train crash at Richmond that saw 15 people taken to hospital on Monday morning would begin “immediately”, according to Transport Minister Andrew Constance.
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Witnesses and passengers described the scene as “a blood bath” after the train hit a buffer at the end of the line shortly after 9.50am.
A police statement said the train was reportedly slowing to stop at the time, and a number of injured passengers and three employees – including the driver – were treated for their injuries.
Mr Constance issued a statement shortly before midday saying investigations into the incident would begin “immediately”.
“Safety is our number one priority and we will now work to determine what caused the incident,” he said.
“As with accidents of this nature, investigators will start work immediately from the Office of Transport Safety Investigations, the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator and Safe Work NSW.”
Industrial negotiations between Sydney Trains and union delegates were temporarily suspended following the incident to ensure passenger and staff safety were prioritised, he said.
NSW Ambulance incident commander, Superintendent Paul Turner, said 15 patients had been transported by road ambulance to hospital, the most serious a 21-year-old male who suffered a suspected fractured leg.
The remaining patients suffered a range of non-life threatening injuries, largely involving back and neck pain, cuts and bruising.
“No patients were trapped by compression, however several patients were classified as trapped as they were unable to leave the train without assistance from paramedics,” Supt Turner said.
“These people are very lucky, it was chaos, things could’ve been much much worse.”
Windsor mother-of -one Linda (surname withheld) was on the train going to her first day at a new job when the crash occurred.
Sitting six carriages back when the train collided with the wall, Linda was thrown from her seat and hit her head in the fall.
"There were already a number of people standing up as we were approaching the platform ... people went flying,” she said. "When I got off the train I saw people with blood on them everywhere, I saw a man laying in a carriage and he couldn't get up, his partner had a huge gash on her arm.
"After a few minutes the shock of the situation hit me, I was shaking and crying - it was terrible."
The train was slowing as it approached the platform but suddenly jerked forward, hitting the wall, she said.
"When the train jerked forward, that's when everyone went flying ... there was a lot of people injured."
Brett (surname withheld) was waiting on the platform and saw passengers go “flying through the air” when the train hit the barrier.
“I was straight onto the train as soon as I seen people were injured ... Inside the train [was] like a bloodbath,” he said. “All the dividers in between the carriages are smashed, completely crushed flat on every single one, that’s how fast it was going.”
Fifteen NSW Ambulance road vehicles were tasked to the scene together with two rescue helicopters, and East Market Street was closed in both directions in front of the station.
Patients were transported to four hospitals in the region – four to Westmead Hospital, five to Blacktown hospital, four to Nepean Hospital and two to Hawkesbury Hospital.
Supt Turner said a triage area was established at Richmond Oval, treating patients in shady areas as the mercury climbed towards 40 degrees.
“Despite the heat it’s still pretty comfortable as we have been able to treat under the shade of several trees,” he said.
Buses replaced trains between Richmond and Clarendon while emergency services were on the scene.
A Sydney Trains statement said normal services had now resumed.
“At 9.51am, a train heading toward Richmond hit a safety barrier when entering the station,” the statement said. “As a result of the impact 13 customers and three staff have been injured. No customers were trapped.
“Our thoughts are with the passengers and staff who were injured during the incident.
“Trains have resumed between Clarendon and Richmond.”
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) stated that the investigation would be led by the NSW Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI).
“Under the provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003, the ATSB will provide OTSI with technical and analytical support,” it stated.
“No further information about the accident is available at this time.”
The train itself remained at the station late Monday afternoon.
