For Your Comment Please

["John Regan" <reganjd@clear.net.nz>]

I am interested in hearing comments on the following article which appeared
in the Christchurch Press today.  What are the veiws of fellow list members
to the suggestions in the article?

The area is rural setting with the coast line about 25 metres from the main
state highway.  there is a area of some 10 metres or so where there are
caravans  set up to sell local sea food and then the railway
line.

Cheers


John Regan
reganjd@clear.net.nz
ph ++64 3 384 0675 (home)
ph ++64 21 362 143 (mobile)
--------

New Zealand news from The Press - December 18, 1998

Action call after death



Worried residents have called on Tranz Rail to take action after a young
woman was killed by a train near Kaikoura.

The American woman, aged 23, worked in one of the caravans from which
crayfish is sold on the side of State Highway 1 at Rakautara, 15km north of
Kaikoura. She did not appear to notice the oncoming train when she walked
across the tracks in front of it yesterday. Her name has not been released
until next of kin overseas can be notified.

Local residents say they want Tranz Rail to either build a fence or ensure
trains travel slowly as they pass the small settlement.

A witness said the woman had been working at the Cay's Crays caravan and
had failed to notice the train when she stepped onto the line about 8.45am
and into the path of a southbound freight train.

Friends said the woman had only recently moved to the small settlement. She
had met a New Zealand man while travelling in Ireland and had come back to
settle here with him.

Rakautara resident Charles Totterdell said it was often difficult to hear a
train coming over the noise of the nearby surf and passing traffic on State
Highway 1. He said the 75kmh speed limit for trains going past the
settlement was far too fast.

He wanted a representative from Tranz Rail to come and see the residents.
"Either slow it right down to 10kmh or have a wire mesh fence," he said.

Tranz Rail staff could not be reached for comment yesterday.