Investigations by several government bodies were launched, including by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which manages the lines, and Comcare, the federal safety watchdog. NSW Police are also investigating.

Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile extended the federal Government’s condolences to the men’s families.

AT least four separate inquiries have been launched into the deaths of two railway workers, who were struck and killed by a coal train in the NSW Hunter Valley yesterday.

The men were wearing brightly coloured safety vests at the time of the accident and there has been no official explanation for thedeaths.

The two men, whose names have not been released, were walking along rail tracks when they were struck by a northbound train shortly before 6am. They died at the scene.

An ambulance spokesman said that although they arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, the men were already dead.

Investigations by several government bodies were launched, including by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which manages the lines, and Comcare, the federal safety watchdog. NSW Police are also investigating.

Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile extended the federal Government’s condolences to the men’s families.

A police spokeswoman said the men were wearing brightly coloured work vests at the time they were killed. A crime scene was established around the site and the railway lines were sealed off.

The lines are expected to remain closed for at least 12 hours as investigators gather evidence.

The signal technicians, whose ages are unknown, worked for the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which owns the interstate rail network.