27 Jan 2016

Tracks still blocked by train derailment

6:55 am on 27 January 2016

A freight train that derailed on heat-buckled tracks in the central North Island is still being cleared from the line, Kiwirail says.

Five rear wagons, mostly carrying frozen meat, tipped off the tracks just north of National Park about 4pm yesterday.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said work to clear the tracks would continue this morning. The Northern Explorer passenger train is unable to run until the line is cleared.

Investigators from the rail company said the freight train was moving extremely slowly when it derailed.

Trains must slow down when track temperatures go above 40 degrees celsius.