Luck and timing helped to prevent a potential head-on train collision in Melbourne's east last month, after an experienced Metro driver defied all safety protocols and drove a train past two stop signals along an extended section of single-track railway shared by trains travelling in both directions.
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The driver has been suspended over the severe safety breach, in which he twice overrode the train's emergency brakes to keep it moving. He was tested for drugs and alcohol after the incident and returned a negative result.
Fairfax Media understands the incident began with a track failure at Upwey railway station on the Belgrave line in Melbourne's outer east on April 12. Had the driver followed routine he would have stopped the train, disrupting services on the line, but instead he continued to the next station in breach of operating rules and procedures.
The train, which was carrying passengers, travelled without permission along a two-and-a-half kilometre stretch of single track railway, between Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully stations. Single track sections can only accommodate one train at a time. There are several in Melbourne, mostly in the outer suburbs.
Due to the timetable, no train was travelling in the other direction, so the train arrived safely at Upper Ferntree Gully station.
Marc Marotta, the secretary of the locomotive division of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, which represents Metro's train drivers, described the driver's actions as "unheard of behaviour".
Mr Marotta said the driver's actions could have had serious consequences, including a head-on collision.
"There's always a possibility of danger if you don't follow procedure," he said.
Metro is investigating what went wrong and will report its findings to the nation's rail safety watchdog, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
The incident at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges has capped off a rise in the past year of Metro train drivers passing red signals that are set to stop.
There have been 73 incidents in which a Metro driver has passed a signal at danger since July 1. The figure already exceeds the number recorded in 2013-14, when there were 61 incidents.
A signal passed at danger, or SPAD, is a potential precursor to a collision, although most breaches are minor. A train's emergency brakes are activated when a train passes a signal at danger, however on this occasion the driver reset the brakes each time.
Metro spokeswoman Larisa Tait said the driver had been stood down pending an investigation, which was likely to be completed this week. The driver has several years' experience.
The company's train drivers had been passing more signals at danger in raw terms, but this was because Metro was running more services and had better reporting methods, Ms Tait said.
"We now have more thorough reporting of SPADs due to the availability of advanced data from both our newer trains and new signals that automatically alert us to a red signal being passed," she said.
"Currently, our SPAD rates are broadly the same as other major Australian railways and on average each driver is involved in a SPAD once every 18 years."
Drivers are trained to avoid passing red signals from day one, Ms Tait said, and Metro's drivers have undergone recent awareness training over the issue.
