On this page: PTSV investigations | Operator investigations | Safety investigations
Following a rail or bus accident or incident, a number of investigations may be undertaken by various organisations, including PTSV. Other investigating organisations may include:
- Victoria Police
- Worksafe
- the State Coroner, and
- the Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport and Marine Safety Investigations, and
- the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
Each organisation will have different objectives for carrying out their investigations.
PTSV investigations
PTSV’s primary objective is to determine if there has been a breach of the law it is responsible for administering (for example, the Rail Safety Act 2006). A PTSV investigation of this nature is commonly referred to as a compliance inspection, but may also take the form of a disciplinary inquiry.
Under the Transport Act 1983, the Safety Director has powers to investigate and report on public transport safety matters. A public transport safety matter is an incident involving rolling stock, rail infrastructure, a bus or any infrastructure used in bus operations that has certain adverse consequences or potential adverse consequences. These may include:
- derailments of rolling stock
- collisions (buses or rolling stock)
- a failure of any part of a train, tram or bus
- a fire or explosion
- a failure or breach of a practice or procedure.
The full list of ‘public transport safety matters’ is listed in Section 82A of the Transport Act 1983.
If appropriate, PTSV may seek to prosecute a rail or bus operator if there has been a serious breach of a relevant law. However, there are several other options available in lieu of prosecution, such as:
- warnings
- improvement notices (for rail operators)
- prohibition notices (for rail operators)
- suspension or cancellation of accreditation (for bus and rail operators).
The Safety Director may choose to make information about his or her investigations and/or inquiries public (under section 9Z of the Rail Safety Act 2006). The PTSV investigations and inquiries page includes such information.Operator investigations
An accredited rail operator must investigate and prepare a report into any railway accident or incident that may affect accredited rail operations the operator carries out.
More information about operator investigations.
Information about bus operator incident reporting requirements is available on the reporting bus incidents page.
Safety investigations
Investigations undertaken to determine what caused a public transport incident are undertaken by the Chief Investigator, Transport and Marine Safety Investigations. The Chief Investigator conducts ‘no-blame’ investigations in order to identify issues that may require review, monitoring or further consideration. These investigations are conducted independently of PTSV.