Two train workers dead after crash between train and truck, near NSW and SA border

Police say two train workers have died in a crash between a freight train and a truck near South Australia’s border with New South Wales.

SA Police said officers responded to reports of a crash about 10:30am on Sunday.

The truck driver wasn’t injured. The Barrier Highway was closed in both directions.

A spokesperson for Pacific National issued a statement about the crash this afternoon.

“It is with great sadness Pacific National confirms the death of two of our Port Augusta Train Crew following a serious incident where our locomotive collided with a truck at a crossing in Bindarrah in South Australia, near the New South Wales border,” the spokesperson said. 

“Pacific National takes the safety of its employees very seriously and has notified regulators who are investigating. 

“This incident is having a profound impact across the organisation, and our first priority is to ensure the highest level of care to the families of our drivers who have tragically died.”

The freight train was heading west at the time of the crash, while the truck carrying avocados was heading east towards Broken Hill.

Fire crews were still attempting to put out the blaze from the diesel locomotive at 3pm local time.

Several emergency crews from NSW and SA arrived from Broken Hill and cranes were expected to be brought to the area to clean up the damage.

It’s understood people on surrounding stations were first on the scene.

There was a small bushfire close to the crash which has been extinguished. 

SA Police said motorists coming from New South Wales would not be able to travel past Broken Hill on the Barrier Highway into South Australia.

Motorists travelling east would not be able to travel past the Petersburg Road-Peterborough turn-off.