Passenger Train rearends Freight

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

This is reproduced from the Otago Daily Times without permission:-

A picture is available at <http://www.press.co.nz/42/local.htm#top>

Passenger, freight trains in collision 


Christchurch: Passengers were hurled out of their seats when the Coastal
Pacific train collided with a log-laden freight train at Rangiora
yesterday. 

The accident happened near the main road in Rangiora, soon before 9am, not
long after the train left Christchurch for Picton.

Tranz Rail spokesman Fred Cockram said the freight train, carrying several
wagons of logs, had pulled over on to a loop to allow the passenger train
to pass. For some reason, the passenger train also diverted on to the loop.

The driver braked hard and slowed the speed of the passenger train right
down but could not avoid a collision with the locomotive of the other
train.

Passengers were thrown out of their seats. Some reported cuts and bumps
while one man broke his glasses. The train manager received a badly bruised
arm and a cut head.

The trip was the last straw in a disastrous visit to New Zealand for
passenger Elaine Pendlebury, from Melbourne, for whom the crash was her
second train drama of the week. She was on the Tranz Alpine earlier in the
week as it crawled its way from Greymouth to Christchurch battling
torrential rain and flooded tracks.

To top it all off, Mrs Pendlebury's husband had to dash back to Melbourne
on Tuesday because his mother died.

"Its been a rough trip so far. I have to go across in the ferry later today
and all I can think about is the Wahine ."

Six-year-old Jimmy Neville said he flew out of his seat when the trains
collided and disappeared under the seat in front.

Passengers gathered on a reserve by the rail tracks for about an hour. Most
were thankful to survive the ordeal unscathed and anxious to get on with
their journey.

Mr Cockram said an internal investigation had been launched into the cause
of the crash. A primary focus will be on why the passenger train was on the
wrong tracks.

A Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigation will also be
undertaken. 

Sergeant Lindsay Turner said the accident closed the main road through
Rangiora for a couple of hours while the trains were removed.

Neither train suffered any structural damage in the collision.

Passengers who wished to continue were taken by bus to Picton in time for
their ferry connections. - NZPA




Thursday, 22-October 1998