May. Meanwhile the workers remain locked out without pay. A coronial inquiry is due to begin this month into the deaths of two rail workers eight months ago at Sandy Hollow in the Upper Hunter Valley. The men, employed to remove debris from the tacks, were killed outright when a coal train struck their four-wheel drive vehicle. A third worker jumped to safety. The deaths brought the number of state rail workers killed in the last six months to four.
Workers say there have been many near misses as well.
Budget cuts and downsizing has cut manning on maintenance crews, undermining safety. Some crews work without a flagman or fail to place detonators on the line to warn of oncoming trains. The WSWS invites your comments. Please send e-mail .