Train drags 'unsteady' passenger to death

A police team in the tunnel under Broadway after yesterday's fatal train accident in Newmarket. Photo / Martin Sykes

An elderly man who leaned on a train as he tried to regain his balance was dragged to his death yesterday.

Onlookers yelled and banged on the train's side as it pulled away from the Kingdon St platform in Newmarket. But the eastbound train dragged the man 20m before stopping under the Broadway overbridge.

Senior Sergeant Shane Mulcahy said witnesses saw the man, believed to be in his 70s, leaning on the train moments before the accident.

"It looks like he has got out, been unsteady on his feet, paused and leaned against the train for a minute to gain his composure," he said. "The train has moved off and he has toppled under it."

Emergency services and Ontrack workers arrived at the station shortly after 1.15pm.

Witness Alex Konigstorfer said he left his office desk when he heard screams from the platform.

"I looked up to see people banging on the train ... and trying to get it to stop. Everyone on the platform was yelling. People were running alongside the track, just screaming.

"Someone must have pushed the emergency brake because it stopped, but it had already gone into the tunnel."

The western line was closed as emergency services investigated the death.

Trains were back running on the line by about 4.15pm.

Veolia Transport managing director Arthur Bruce said train managers routinely checked the platform before a train left.

"We are involved in the investigation with the police," he said.

"With someone having died, we won't speculate publicly on what happened."

Newmarket Business Association chief executive Cameron Brewer said he had never heard any complaints about the safety of the temporary platform on Kingdon St.

"It has been operating for more than 18 months, since the old station was decommissioned," he said. "People have been calling for the platform to be made permanent because it has been working well."

The Kingdon St and Remuera Rd temporary platforms are to be removed in January when the new central Newmarket rail station is opened.