The Melbourne-bound XTP service from Sydney entered a rail loop at Wallan at almost 130 kilometres an hour despite a 15km/h speed limit in place through a re-routed section of track.

Castlemaine train pilot Sam Meintanis, 49, was killed in the February 2020 crash. Experienced train driver John Kennedy, 54, of the ACT, also died.

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Mr Meintanis had boarded the train shortly before the derailment to help Mr Kennedy navigate a 24-kilometre section of track where signalling equipment had been damaged in a February 3 fire.

On the day of the derailment the track through Wallan had been manually reconfigured to divert trains through a loop. The speed limit was reduced from the usual 130km/h track limit to 15km/h into the loop and 35km/h out of the loop.

An interim report released by the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau reveals analysis from the train's data recorder showed the train entered the loop at the higher track speed. The driver had braked between 50 and 150 metres beforehand.

"This slowed the train a small amount before it entered the turnout travelling at a speed probably between 114 and 127km/h," the report said.

"The train was not able to negotiate the turnout to the crossing loop track at this speed and derailed."

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There were 155 passengers on board. Mr Kennedy and Mr Meintanis were among nine crew.

Eight passengers suffered serious injuries in the crash and 53 passengers and five crew received minor injuries.

A full report on the derailment is not expected until early next year, with a number of issues including survivability and crashworthiness standards still being investigated.

The crash prompted a series of safety actions taken by the Australian Rail Track Corporation and NSW Trains.

The latter has changed procedures to include confirmation by train crews prior to starting their day that they have received critical safety information.

ARTC is also working on a new risk assessment tool for "abnormal circumstances".

Australian Associated Press

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