SteamRanger’s Cockle Train services have been temporarily suspended again following a collision and derailment at Middleton yesterday, Wednesday 14 June.

A loaded truck collided with the train at the rail crossing on Petersen Road at 10am.

SteamRanger says there were 14 passengers and four crew onboard the train at the time of the collision. 

The train driver and a young passenger were taken to hospital with minor injuries; the remaining passengers were transported back to Goolwa by chartered bus.

Due to railcar and track damage, all Cockle Train services between Goolwa and Port Elliot have been cancelled until further notice.

SteamRanger President Peter Charleston says the damaged railcar is likely to be out of action for three to six months.

He hopes the Cockle Train service will be back up and running by the end of next week, with services definitely resuming in time for the next school holidays in July.

This is the second major blow for SteamRanger this year, with limited services only resuming on 4 June after a derailment in Port Elliot on 21 May.

In December 2021 a car collided with a Cockle Train railcar at Victor Harbor.

Responding to calls for improved safety measures, such as lights and boom gates, Mr Michalak says the number of rail crossings made the costs prohibitive.

“If people obeyed the road signs… we wouldn’t have these prangs.”

Visit the SteamRanger website for updates on resumption of services and bookings.