Truck rolls near railway line

A fully loaded refrigerated truck has rolled close to the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura, but the line remains open for now.

Police southern communications spokesman Inspector Doug Parker said the crash happened about 10.10am "about 15 minutes north of Kaikoura".

The driver was out of his vehicle and apparently unhurt.

Ambulance services were not required.

Mr Parker said rail line maintenance company OnTrack had been advised.

A Kaikoura police spokeswoman said police were heading to the crash site.

OnTrack spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said the crash site was between Hapuku and Clarence.

The truck ended up close to the railway line, but the Coastal Pacific express managed to get through.

"It's beside the line but not across it," he said.

No trains were due "in the immediate future" and OnTrack contractors would "pilot them past" the wrecked truck.

Mr Ramshaw said the railway line would need to be closed for a "relatively short time" when a crane was brought in to remove the truck.

- NZPA