24 Jun 2012

Collision could have been avoided - report

5:39 am on 24 June 2012

A report on the collision of two trains in Wellington nearly two years ago, has found that KiwiRail staff failed to act on severe weather warnings issued the day before the crash.

In September 2010, a train bound for Paraparaumu carrying 40 passengers hit a slip on the track and derailed.

A south-bound train with 14 passengers then clipped the cab of the derailed train.

Five people were taken to hospital.

The report by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission found that if a track inspection had been carried out and a speed restriction put in place, the collision could have been avoided.

KiwiRail says it accepts the commmission's findings, and has introduced a system for track inspections since the crash.