'Over-helpful' staff stop train in Britomart tunnel

Auckland rail operator Connex blames "overly helpful" staff for stopping a train in the Britomart tunnel after a passenger protested that it was taking him the wrong way.

But the company says it is not responsible for the passenger's actions in forcing open a door and leaping out, before walking along the track back to Britomart Station.

The train initially pulled out of the station at 1.40pm on Easter Monday before the man realised it was bound for the eastern loop line through Glen Innes, and would not take him to his desired destination of Newmarket.

Connex general manager Chris White said the train crew was preparing to reverse the train back to the station for the man's benefit before he pre-empted them by jumping out.

The driver had walked from the front of the train to a cab at the rear, ready to take it back to Britomart, after gaining permission from traffic controllers in Wellington.

This led to a delay of about five minutes, Mr White said.

Walking on tracks is strongly discouraged by railway stations management agency Auckland Regional Transport Network, which warns transgressors of a maximum penalty of a $20,000 fine or six months in jail for trespassing on the rail corridor.

Another passenger on the train, Patrick Stowers, initially thought staff let the man out in defiance of the law.

Mr White denied this was so, but said the company was concerned about the delay caused by the good intentions of its staff, which was "something we need to strongly discourage".

"No actions of our staff violated any safety regulations," he said.

Mr Stowers acknowledged not having seen exactly how the man left the train, so could not argue with the company's insistence he let himself off.

But he questioned the safety implications of stopping in the tunnel, and said the train had to pick up speed in a bid to regain time.

Even so, he said it was running eight minutes late by the time he got off at Otahuhu.