NSW: Chemical leak appears to be false alarm: fire brigades

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2008
NSW: Chemical leak appears to be false alarm: fire brigades

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - The source of a suspected toxic chemical spill from a freight
train that has halted rail services in the NSW southern highlands is proving illusive,
the fire brigades say.

The NSW Fire Brigades expects to give the all clear before noon today, allowing trains
to resume running.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene about 2.5km north of Mittagong after receiving
a triple-0 call from a RailCorp crew member about 5.30am (AEDT) today.

A smell of ammonia had been detected from one container on a 1,400 metre Pacific National
freight train, a RailCorp spokeswoman said.

Train services in both directions on the southern highlands line were halted, stranding
commuters while the NSW Fire Brigades searched for any chemical spill.

Hazardous material crews have spent the morning inspecting the container but have not
been able to find anything.

Superintendent Craig Brierley of the NSW Fire Brigades said there had been no further
detection of any chemical smell.

But the crews would investigate every possible source of the smell before deciding
it was a false alarm.

"It's a just matter of checking now each possibility ... but we haven't been able to
identify a specific container it has come from," Supt Brierley said.

He said he expected the search to be wound up before noon.

RailCorp has organised bus services between Moss Vale and Picton to ferry commuters
past the trouble spot but is encouraging people to find alternative transport if they
can.

AAP sk/wjf/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: AMMONIA LEAD

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