A 41-year-old  has been charged with careless driving, fail to stop and give way and fail to wear a seatbelt. 

The driver was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital on July 13 when his trailer and a train carrying almost 100 passengers collided. 18 people suffered minor injuries.

The Pirron Yallock crossing where the collision occurred did not have boom gates at the time of the crash but has since been upgraded.

At the time of the collision it had been earmarked for an urgent upgrade. 

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said on Monday 20 level crossing upgrades on the Warrnambool line would be completed under a $10-million state government plan aimed at getting the region’s train service back on track by the end of the year.

The announcement will fast-track eight crossings already scheduled for upgrades, as well as add another 12 road crossings – complete with boom gates, lights and bells – to the Warrnambool line.

Delays have plagued the line since speed restrictions were introduced as a safety measure following last year’s crash between a train and truck at the Pirron Yallock crossing.

Ms Allan said the work would be the biggest crossing upgrade in the line’s history and give more certainty to passengers.

With The Standard