4WD driver killed in collision with tourist train

A man was killed when his 4x4 vehicle and a tourist passenger train collided at a level crossing in central Canterbury this morning.


The collision occurred at a railway crossing at the Waimakariri Gorge Rd and State Highway 73, about 25 minutes west of Christchurch at about 9.10am.


The driver of the West Coast-bound TranzAlpine passenger train was shaken, but none of the 365 passengers were injured.


Sue Foley, spokeswoman for the train owner , Toll NZ , said the 4x4 had driven through the bells and lights at the crossing into the first of two locomotives pulling the train.


The equipment has been confirmed as working.


Engineers were at the site, assessing whether the train was safe to continue it's journey. Toll would not be investigating the accident as it was a matter for police, she said.


- NZPA