Freight train ploughs into herd of cattle in Wairarapa

File photo.

Wairarapa commuters to Wellington faced delays this morning after a freight train ran into a mob of cattle, south of Masterton.

The single track was closed as engineers inspected the locomotive and cleaned up the mess and commuter services were transferred to buses, Tranz Metro spokeswoman Cathie Bell said.

The locomotive hit the mob south of Masterton just before 5.30am.

The number of cattle killed was not known, but the locomotive hit "a few", Ms Bell said.

There was a bit of a mess, she said.

"A loco versus a cow, is not going to be nice."

The line was cleared shortly before 9am and the first commuter service was expected to resume from Masterton at 10.25am.

Tranz Metro was talking to police and trying to find the owner of the cattle.

"The owner of the cattle has lost a significant resource and it's a serious hazard for us."

It was too early to say if any charges would be laid, she said.

Ms Bell said trains hit some sort of animal on the track about once a month or so.

- NZPA