Immediately after the crash, lighting gas escaping from the damaged carriages caused a fire, which was extinguished by bystanders and the volunteer Sunshine fire brigade.
The fire delayed attempts to rescue injured passengers trapped inside the train.
Rescue efforts were further hampered by the lack of available equipment such as axes or stretchers, which had to be sourced from areas surrounding the station.

Uninjured occupants of the two trains and railway officials (including the drivers and firemen of both trains) began to extricate others from the wreckage immediately after the crash.
In addition, a number of local residents who had seen or heard the accident ran to the station to assist with the rescue efforts.

Immediately after news of the crash reached Melbourne, railway officials began organising a relief train to carry supplies and rescue workers, as well as 4 doctors, to the scene of the crash.
According to the Chair of the Railways Commissioners, Thomas Tait, the train left Spencer Street Station at 11:30 pm and arrived at Sunshine at 12:17 am.
Conflicting reports indicate that the train did not arrive until 12:45 am or later, and Tait later denied that there had been undue delay in the response.

At 12:20 am, the undamaged front section of the Ballarat train left Sunshine carrying survivors of the crash.
A second casualty train departed at 2:10 am carrying 10 bodies as well as injured passengers requiring medical attention, and a third left at 3:35  with 22 bodies on board.

When casualty trains arrived at Spencer Street, most of the badly injured were taken to the Melbourne Hospital, while the dead were placed in waiting rooms for identification.

After all the bodies had been recovered from the wreckage at Sunshine, work began immediately to clear the railway line, and one line was reopened by 7:00 am the morning after the accident.
The Victorian Coroner visited the crash site through the morning of 22 April.
Immediately after the crash, lighting gas escaping from the damaged carriages caused a fire, which was extinguished by bystanders and the volunteer Sunshine fire brigade. The fire delayed attempts to rescue injured passengers trapped inside the train. Rescue efforts were further hampered by the lack of available equipment such as axes or stretchers, which had to be sourced from areas surrounding the station.
Uninjured occupants of the two trains and railway officials (including the drivers and firemen of both trains) began to extricate others from the wreckage immediately after the crash. In addition, a number of local residents who had seen or heard the accident ran to the station to assist with the rescue efforts.
Immediately after news of the crash reached Melbourne, railway officials began organising a relief train to carry supplies and rescue workers, as well as 4 doctors, to the scene of the crash. According to the Chair of the Railways Commissioners, Thomas Tait, the train left Spencer Street Station at 11:30 pm and arrived at Sunshine at 12:17 am. Conflicting reports indicate that the train did not arrive until 12:45 am or later, and Tait later denied that there had been undue delay in the response.
At 12:20 am, the undamaged front section of the Ballarat train left Sunshine carrying survivors of the crash. A second casualty train departed at 2:10 am carrying 10 bodies as well as injured passengers requiring medical attention, and a third left at 3:35  with 22 bodies on board.
When casualty trains arrived at Spencer Street, most of the badly injured were taken to the Melbourne Hospital, while the dead were placed in waiting rooms for identification.
After all the bodies had been recovered from the wreckage at Sunshine, work began immediately to clear the railway line, and one line was reopened by 7:00 am the morning after the accident. The Victorian Coroner visited the crash site through the morning of 22 April.
Sunshine rail disaster