RO-1996-104

At 1030 hours on Thursday 2 May 1996, two Hi-Rail vehicles collided on a curve near Kotemaori on the Palmerston North-Gisborne Line. The four occupants of the vehicles were uninjured. The cause of the collision was insufficient information available to the employee in charge of one of the Hi-Rail vehicles.

Safety deficiencies addressed in the report are the suitability of the existing Operating Rules covering conflicting Hi-Rail vehicle movements. Safety issues addressed in the report are the compliance with Train Control procedures and the compliance with certification requirements for operating Hi-Rail vehicles.