Slip halts commuter train, flooding spreads

A commuter train has derailed on Wellington's Johnsonville line after heavy rain triggered a slip.

A number of houses were also affected by flooding and some city roads were closed. A house in Kilbirnie was evacuated after a slip in that suburb.

There were seven people on the train. They were kept on board until overhead electricity wires were switched off and then ferried back along the lines by a high rail vehicle.

Government track owner Ontrack closed line while the train remained stranded.

The slip occurred at the Kaiwharawhara end of the Ngaio Gorge, between two tunnels on the line. It derailed the front wheels of the leading unit.

The timing for reopening all or part of the line will depend on the weather, clearing the slip and re-railing the stranded unit.

The fire service said a house in Vallance St, Kilbirnie had been evacuated after a slip. The slip was being assessed by engineers.

It did not initially appear to be on the scale of other slips this winter that have blocked major highways, undermined houses and threatened a multi-million dollar apartment block.

The soil soaked with water is struggling to cope with any additional rain.

Police said Moa Point Rd at the back of the airport had been closed due to surface flooding and they were also assessing water lying on the Hutt Road and State Highway 1 in the Johnsonville straight and Tawa turnoff areas.

Flood-prone areas of Lower Hutt were also being monitored as water from reservoirs was released into the Hutt River, Radio New Zealand reported.

The fire service also said it was called to clear drains where surface flooding threatened houses in the low-lying suburbs throughout the city.

- NZPA