CEO speaks after Puffing Billy collision

The minibus was left wedged after the collision. 178500_01 Picture: DEREK SCHLENNSTEDT

Puffing Billy Railway has released the following after today’s collision in Menzies Creek:
A small tourist bus carrying 16 passengers clipped the side of one of the Puffing Billy
carriages at 11.45am on Tuesday 6 February at the School Road, Menzies Creek crossing.
Puffing Billy management was quick to respond on the scene with one bus passenger
taken to hospital for precautionary tests.
Puffing Billy CEO, John Robinson said thankfully there were no serious injuries sustained
to passengers onboard Puffing Billy.
“My team of staff and volunteers are on scene and are working together with
emergency services to ensure the area is safe and people are out of harm’s way,” he
said.
“Safety is of the utmost importance at our iconic heritage steam railway and we have
procedures in place to mitigate further danger and to ensure the continued safety of all
passengers on the railway.
“We take great pride in our railway safety precautions and incident management plan
and are well equipped to ensure incidents like these are handled with due diligence and
with correct processes in place.”
Puffing Billy is Australia’s favourite steam train and a major tourist attraction.
Tourists from all over Australia as well as overseas travel on Puffing Billy every year.
Since 1962, nearly 11 million passengers have enjoyed a journey aboard this historic steam
train.
Puffing Billy is included in all the major tour operatorsÍ› itineraries from Melbourne with the railway working with over 300 different tour operators from around the world.
Puffing Billy has suspended all operations for the remainder of Tuesday 6 March.