The aftermath of the incident was evident as the train’s front window lay shattered, with a toppled truck and trailer nearby, and the bobcat it was transporting scattered across the railway tracks.
Debris from the collision struck multiple cars, including a tire that became lodged in one vehicle’s windshield.
In the wake of the crash, two women and a teenager were transported to different hospitals, while two toddlers and their mother were examined on-site and found to be unharmed.
According to 9News, around 100 passengers were aboard the train during the accident. Some had to endure an hour-long wait before they could disembark, many of them wrapped in blankets for warmth.
The experience left passengers rattled, with reports of hearing a high-pitched noise followed by violent shaking of the train.
“He was holding on to me, and I was just like, I was scared, I was shocked,” one passenger recounted, capturing the fear that gripped those on board.
Another said he was woken up and bounced off his seat.
A significant police and emergency services presence remained into the night as a crane moved in to begin trying to remove the truck from the tracks.
The Midland line was shut down between Midland and Bassendean, causing delays on the Ellenbrook, Airport and Fremantle lines.
Replacement buses were being organised between Midland and Bassendean but long delays were expected.
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