An interim report has been released into a fatal train derailment in early 2020.

Safety authorities have found that the train that derailed near Wallan in Victoria, killing its driver and pilot, was travelling at more than 100km/h in a section of track that had a speed limit of just 15km/h.

“The train was not able to negotiate the turnout to the loop track at this speed and derailed. All vehicles derailed excepting the rear power car,” according to a preliminary report on the crash released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

The derailment of the XPT train from Sydney to Melbourne killed 54-year-old driver John Kennedy, , and 49-year-old train pilot Sam Meintanis.

The pilot joined Mr Kennedy at the front of the train just a few stops before Wallan to help navigate a 24km-section of track where signalling equipment was damaged, described as an “alternative safeworking system”.

The equipment was left damaged by a fire in a track-side equipment hut on just weeks before the incident.

The usual speed limit for the section of track was 130km/h, but earlier that afternoon, the movable points at either end of the Wallan Loop had been changed to divert traffic from the main line into a loop track.

There was a notice specifying the new speed limit of 15km/h for entering the loop and 35km/h for exiting.

The train’s emergency brake was applied shortly before the train reached the points.

“This slowed the train a small amount before it entered the turnout travelling at a speed in excess of 100 km/h,” the report states.

The ensuing derailment left the driver and pilot with fatal injuries, three passengers seriously hurt, and 36 passengers received minor injuries along with five train crew.

ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said the report establishes basic factual information, but a final report some 18 months away will detail findings, including contributing factors and any safety issues.

“However, should any safety critical information be discovered at any time during the investigation, we will immediately notify operators and regulators, and make that publicly known,” Mr Hood said.