Wellington commuter line reopens after slip cleared

A helicopter with a monsoon bucket has been working today to clear a huge slip on Wellington's Johnsonville train line.

The line is due to reopen at 6pm tonight, giving tomorrow's commuters a clear run to work.

Ontrack spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said the helicopter and monsoon bucket was brought in to dislodge any further loose soil on the bank above the slip, which came down on to the track at the Kaiwharawhara end of the Ngaio Gorge about 9am yesterday.

"It must have come down just as the train was coming because it derailed the front wheels of the leading unit," Mr Ramshaw said.

After overhead power lines were shut off, passengers were evacuated by "rail truck". There were eight people on the train.

Mr Ramshaw said it was possible speed restrictions could be put in place tomorrow morning, and further retaining work would need to be done on the track over the next few months.

The storm which hit Wellington yesterday dumped up to 90mm of rain in parts of the region between 8am and 3pm, landing on already sodden ground.

Engineers were today inspecting Wellington properties evacuated after they were threatened by landslips yesterday.

Wellington City Council spokesman David Venables said a flat behind an Aro Valley house was knocked off its foundation and a property in Kilbirnie was evacuated.

Although slipping threatened the Kilbirne property no debris entered the house.

The Fire Service was also called to pump out several houses affected by floodwaters, as overloaded stormwater drains caused sewerage to overflow.

- NZPA