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Runaway freight train in Tasmania’s north injures two pedestrians

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on scene as it conducts an investigation into the TasRail crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on scene as it conducts an investigation into the TasRail crash. Photo: Twitter/Seven News

Tasmanian police have made a desperate bid to alert the public to a runaway driverless train carrying cement which later derailed in Devonport’s waterfront.

Two pedestrians were injured by flying debris when multiple carriages from the train, operated remotely, crashed into nearby fences and stopped short of the Harbour Master Cafe 100 metres away.

Police cars with sirens blaring tried to alert the public as it lost control about 9am on Friday as it approached the city, in the state’s north, travelling about 50km/h.

Tasmania 
Police Inspector Stuart Wilkinson explained how emergency service crews desperately tried to warn the public about the runaway train.

“We had all our police vehicles deployed with lights and sirens. That obviously indicated to people there was an issue (but) they wouldn’t have been aware the train was going to derail basically in front of them,” he told reporters on the scene.

“Given the timing it was very difficult to get people in place and clear that area.”

“It wasn’t clear to us where the train would derail, only that it would and it would be around the area of the wharf.”

Police said pieces of timber fencing hit a woman, aged in her 20s, in the head and a man in his 40s has a suspected broken elbow and cuts.

The pair were walking together in the area when the train derailed and emergency services described their injuries as minor.

The train was out of control for only a short time after becoming “unsteady” near the Devonport silos, minutes before the derailment, Inspector  Wilkinson said.

“This very quickly came to a stop after the derailment mechanism was activated,” he added.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed it is looking into the derailment.

Emergency crews are expected to remain at the scene into Saturday.

-with AAP

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