Relief that fatal rail crossing will have warning lights

File photo / NZ Herald

The widower of a woman killed at a Mt Maunganui rail crossing has welcomed a detective's recommendation to install lights and bells at the site.

Kumiko Wakamiya Goodhall, 55, died from massive chest and head injuries after being hit by a maintenance train at a Matapihi Rd level crossing on April 20 last year.

In Tauranga today, a coronial inquest heard how the Japanese-born mother of two, who was training to cycle the Otago Rail Trail, had been out on her bicycle riding a circuit of Mt Maunganui when she was struck at about 2.38pm.

In a statement read to the inquest, Graham Meradith, one of two engineers aboard the train, told how he saw Ms Goodhall fail to catch the pedals with her feet before coming to a stop in the middle of the tracks.

"She stepped half off the pushbike again and caught the right hand pedal with her right foot and tried to push off. She tried to push off on the right pedal."

Mr Meradith stated how he believed the seat of the bike was fixed too high - and that Ms Goodhall was unaware of the train until its horn sounded.

"She looked up to see what the horn was I think, that's where the realisation was, it was all over."

The train driver, travelling at about 20km/h, activated the emergency brakes but could not stop in time.

Earphones were found among Ms Goodhall's belongings at the scene - but it had not been confirmed whether she had been listening to loud music on her i-Pod, which was not found.

Tauranga Police senior constable Chris Hills told the inquest it was clear from evidence that Ms Goodhall had moved into the crossing without checking the way was clear.

"She may not have heard the crossing bells or horn blast from the train as it approached the crossing due to wearing earphones and possibly listening to music."

An inspection of the bike afterward also found there were "serious concerns" over the bike being too tall for Ms Goodhall.

Detective Roland Duytshoff suggested the crossing could be made safer by "in your face" lights and bells specially designed for pedestrians.

Ms Goodhall's widower, Allan Goodhall, said afterward the recommendation "resonated" with him.

"I think our family would welcome any review of how trains coming would signal for pedestrians at level crossings, to develop a greater awareness."

Coroner Wallace Bain reserved his findings into the death.