Posted: 2024-05-13 05:22:55

An investigation is underway into an iron ore train crash in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

Mining giant Rio Tinto said an autonomous train hit a set of stationary wagons about 80 kilometres outside Karratha.

A Rio Tinto spokesperson said the incident occurred just after midnight on Monday and that 22 wagons and three locomotives were impacted.

"There were no people within the vicinity of the incident and no injuries," the spokesperson said.

"We have notified the appropriate regulators and commenced an investigation.

"Work will soon begin to clear the rail line."

Late afternoon view of the crashed rio tinto train on the outskirts of Karratha.

The train crashed near Karratha in the early hours of Monday morning.(ABC Pilbara: Charlie McLean)

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) said it received a report about a collision between a loaded ore train and a recovery train.

"The recovery train is reported to have collided with the ore train it was sent to recover after it was disabled by a mechanical failure," a spokesman said in a statement.

"ONRSR is investigating the incident and will be making a series of enquiries.

"At this stage these are focused on the operation of and adherence to signalling systems in the area."

Overturned rail cars with iron ore in them.

The national rail safety regulator is investigating the crash.(Supplied: Western Mine Workers Alliance)

It is the second Rio Tinto derailment in the Pilbara this year.

An empty autonomous train left the tracks about 120km from Dampier in February.

It also follows another derailment of one of the miner's autonomous train in June last year.

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