Cockle Train services between Goolwa and Victor Harbor have been suspended until further notice, following derailment of the historic train last Sunday 21 May.

SteamRanger Heritage Railway says on its Facebook page that at around 4pm two of the four heritage railcars derailed between Port Elliot and Victor Harbor.

Approximately 30 people were on-board the 1950s ‘Redhen’ Railcar set at the time.

“No injuries were reported by passengers or crew, and all were safely evacuated, and completed their journey to Port Elliot and Goolwa by road coach.

“A formal investigation into the cause of the derailment is currently underway.

“SteamRanger appreciates the concern from locals and tourists, however, asks that interested parties avoid accessing the derailment site while vehicle recovery and track repairs are undertaken.”

It has been forced to cancel scheduled services between Goolwa and Port Elliot because of difficulty clearing the track.

Damage to the track cannot be assessed until the derailed carriages can be removed and so SteamRanger has been unable to say when services can resume.

It has asked passengers to demonstrate support by attending its Railfest depot open day at Mount Barker on Sunday 28 May.

Visit the SteamRanger website or Facebook page for details and updates.