Track Tampering Puts Lives At Risk

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables is concerned for the safety of its loco crews and members of the public after three track tampering incidents in the space of a week.

Burdekin Cane Supply Manager John Tait said members of the public had switched the points on three sections of cane rail line in the Burdekin region in the second week of the school holidays, causing two near hits and a derailment. One of the near hits involved children. It’s not known who was responsible for the other incidents.

“We’ve spoken with the parents of three children who were responsible for switching the points near Inkerman Mill in Home Hill on 9 July,” Mr Tait said.

“Fortunately, in that particular case, an outgoing loco driver saw the kids behaving suspiciously near the points and radioed it in.

“When our logistics officer went out to check, he found the points had been switched against the main line. This could have caused the cane train to veer into a cane rail siding on its way back into the mill, potentially colliding with cane bins and causing a derailment.

“While we were lucky on this occasion, I must emphasise how dangerous this sort of behaviour is. Tampering with the track is not a bit of harmless holiday fun – it can cause serious damage to our infrastructure and put our people’s lives at risk.”

Mr Tait said two similar incidents were also reported that week – one in the Invicta Mill area, near Giru, and one in the Kalamia Mill area, near Ayr. One of the drivers was able to pull up in time, avoiding a collision. The other cane train collided with bins on the siding, causing nine bins to derail.

“It’s fortunate that, in all three cases, the loco didn’t derail and no one was hurt. But all of these incidents could have resulted in serious injury or worse.

“Locos hauling cane bins can take up to a kilometre to come to a stop after brakes are applied. They typically travel at speeds of up to 35km an hour on main lines so it’s dangerous to suddenly divert them into a siding, where haulout operators pick up and drop off bins.”

Mr Tait appealed to parents and carers to warn children about the dangers of interfering with Wilmar’s cane rail infrastructure, or playing around cane rail lines.

“Children and other members of the public need to stay well clear of our cane rail network for their own safety and the safety of our loco crews.”

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has issued a strong warning about the dangers of tampering
with its cane rail track following a spate of incidents in the Burdekin. Photo supplied: Wilmar Sugar and Renewables

A major derailment at Clare 2 siding caused significant disruption on the evening of Friday, 18 June 2025, when dozens of full cane bins came off the tracks as a loaded train entered the siding. The force of the derailment tore up sections of the main line, prompting a large-scale recovery effort. Crews worked through the night and into Saturday to clear the wreckage, with most of the damaged bins and track debris removed by 3pm on 19 June. The incident is one of the most serious derailments reported so far this crushing season. Photo credit: Carl Milne

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