Man dies after being hit by train

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A man has died after he was hit by a train just south of Porirua this morning.

KiwiRail said a person on the line at Kenepuru was struck by the Capital Connection passenger train just before 8.15am as it travelled into Wellington. Police are in control of the scene and train operations have been suspended until clearance has been given.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the man died at the scene.

A passenger on the train told nzherald.co.nz via Twitter about the fatal accident, which she said was at a rail crossing in Kenepuru.

"Sat on the Capital Connection, we had a fatal accident at Kenepuru crossing, waiting for police to release us - going to be a while," Dawn Hall wrote.

Buses will take the 300 passengers of the train involved in the incident to Wellington once they have been released by police.

KiwiRail said no passengers on the train were harmed and the driver will be offered counselling and support.

Tranz Metro said buses were replacing trains between Porirua and Wellington this morning. Trains are still running between Porirua and Paraparaumu, but delays should be expected.

"This is a sad incident for the person involved in the incident, their family and friends," said Deborah Hume, KiwiRail's general manager rail passenger.

"We do realise that a number of passengers have had their journey into Wellington disrupted this morning," Ms Hume said. "We expect some delays but are doing our best to transport passengers on available buses as quickly as we can."

- NZHERALD STAFF and NZPA