'Alan' may have been on way to Auckland

Police have issued this photo of the man struck by a train in Levin on Friday night in the hope someone will recognise him. Photo / Supplied

Mystery man "Alan", still unidentified more than a week after being hit by a train in Kapiti, may have been a traveller who sold up in Christchurch and was on his way to Auckland.

The man, who police are trying to identify, is still in hospital. He has woken up but conversations have been limited and he is "confused", police said.

But they had spoken to a woman who said she gave "Alan" a ride from Levin railway station to a motel in Levin on the night before the incident, on Thursday, May 27.

In conversation he told the woman he was from Christchurch, that he had sold up to travel while he still could, and that he was heading ultimately to Auckland. He said he had taken the train on the Thursday night from Paraparaumu, indicating he had stayed in a motel there on Wednesday night.

Staff at the motel in Levin have also confirmed that a man fitting the description checked into the motel, gave his name as "Alan" and paid in cash.

"Alan" provided a surname to the motel but this information is not being released by police because they cannot be sure he gave his real name and do not want to "close the minds of the public off to any other possibility".

"We are working on the name provided by the motel but so far that has not yielded any confirmed identification. We have to bear in mind that he appears very confused," said Detective Brenda Kelly.

No wallet was seen at the motel. Staff describe him as walking with a limp and speaking with a stutter.

They have also described him as having with him a black and yellow backpack and an old suitcase, coloured blue-grey with a zip and buckles.

On Friday morning he checked out around 9.45am and left with his bags, suggesting he might head to Palmerston North.

Police hope that by adding to the jigsaw puzzle they will be able to confirm his name and find out how he came to be on the tracks on Friday night.

"Alan" underwent further surgery yesterday and is still described as serious but stable. He is breathing on his own but he is highly medicated and his speech is very limited.

"There is nothing to suggest at this stage that any untoward has happened to him. Our conversations with him have been limited and he is still showing some signs of confusion but he is responding 'no' to anyone hurting him or taking his belongings. We don't know where those belongings are and we would ask for public help in locating them," Ms Kelly said.

The public response to the mystery had been huge, with people calling in to say they do not know who he is but are prepared to sit by his bedside so he is not alone, Ms Kelly said.

But police are calling on the public for more information.

* Have you shared a plane, a train or a ferry with 'Alan'?

* Have you given 'Alan' a ride or stopped and talked to him?

* Where are his bags?

* Did you see him on the platform or the train on Friday night?

Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Levin Police Station on 06 366 0500.