A train hauls logs through Pekapeka swamp to Napier. Photo / Warren Buckland.
A train hauls logs through Pekapeka swamp to Napier. Photo / Warren Buckland.
Three weeks after two people died in a collision with a freight train in Dannevirke, KiwiRail data reveals there had already been a trio of near misses at level crossings in Hawke's Bay.
KiwiRail statistics for the year ended June 2018, show two of those near misses involved pedestrians.
Earlier this month a freight train, which had been heading to Palmerston North from Napier, collided with a car, resulting in the deaths of two people.
This week KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy said with close encounters with trains on the rise and as train frequencies increased, KiwiRail and TrackSAFE NZ were encouraging everyone to take a simple action that could save their lives.
"Since 2012, 107 people have died in collisions with trains in New Zealand. Each of those deaths was an individual tragedy that impacted on the lives of families, friends, communities, our staff and those in the emergency services who deal with the aftermath," Reidy said.
"In the 12 months to June, there were 71 near misses reported between pedestrians and trains at level crossings throughout the country. This compares to 17 near misses with pedestrians reported in the 12 months to June 2013, reflecting a global trend of an increase in reported rail incidents involving pedestrians."
Those statistics included a total of seven incidents in Hawke's Bay - not including this month's fatal incident.
Of those seven incidents one was recorded as a collision with a heavy road vehicle. Another three collisions were recorded with light road vehicles. In addition, a total of three "near misses" were recorded - one with a light road vehicle, and two near collisions with a person.
TrackSAFE NZ foundation manager Megan Drayton pointed out that while in general, incidents involving vehicles were decreasing, near misses with pedestrians were on the rise.
"People are sometimes on autopilot when they're familiar with an environment and don't remember to look up from their phones or remove their headphones when they approach a level crossing."
Drayton said there was also a need to be mindful when a level crossing included double tracks, there was also a "real need" to be mindful of a second train.
KiwiRail also reminded people there would now be regular trains running between Wairoa and Napier, following start of work to re-instate the line for commercial use next year.
A KiwiRail work train crosses the Mohaka Viaduct in July. Photo / KiwiRail
KiwiRail upper North Island operations manager Henare Clarke reminded people to take care between Wairoa and Napier, with work trains now using the route frequently for the first time in years.
"Work taking place on the Napier – Wairoa line at present includes re-sleepering, structural repairs and signalling maintenance and upgrades. A test car is on the line this week checking track geometry.
"Last month work trains travelled over the Mohaka Viaduct, the tallest viaduct in Australasia, for the first time in six years.
"This week is Rail Safety Week, so it's a timely reminder that people need to be extremely careful around the rail corridor and when using level crossings.
"It is not only work trains that are moving on the line, but also hi-rail vehicles - vehicles that go on rail. We should all treat the corridor as 'live' at all times."
