KiwiRail locomotive DX5287, the incident locomotive. File photo taken in 2015 soon after new paintwork. Photo: Bernard Spragg.
Train 931, Safe working irregularity, 553.82 km Main South Line, Mataura, 12 January 2025
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
What happened
At about 1040 on 12 January 2025, a signals technician called train control to request a 10-kilometre-per-hour (km/h) Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) be placed on Rayonier Crossing (the crossing) near Mataura to carry out signals maintenance work.
The signals maintenance work included carrying out testing of bonding wires in a cabinet close to the rail line and the crossing.
The train controller acknowledged the call and carried out administrative tasks required to impose the TSR.
At about 1149, Train 931, heading towards North Edendale siding, passed through Mataura, approximately 2.5 kilometres (km) north of the crossing.
The locomotive engineer (LE) of Train 931 was unaware of the 10 km/h speed restriction and, at 1151, travelled through the crossing at 77 km/h.
Both signals technicians, alerted by the train’s horn, heard the train approaching and were clear of the railway track when the train went past.
No one was injured and no damage occurred.
Why it happened
The train controller annotated the train control graph but did not advise the single train in the area of the speed restriction because they were waiting for the LE to call at Mataura.
The LE did not call train control immediately when they had cleared Mataura station limits and went through the crossing before train control advised them of the TSR.
The work at the crossing was unplanned and not listed on the daily information bulletin (DIB).
The initial call by the signals technician to train control to establish the TSR was made by telephone rather than over the radio. This meant an opportunity was missed for other rail workers in the area to gain important information over an open radio channel.
What we can learn
Compliance with safe working rules and procedures is necessary to protect all rail workers. Non-compliance can lead to near misses, incidents or accidents.
Who may benefit
Any staff involved in safety-critical activities and their managers may benefit from the findings in this report.
At about 1040 on 12 January 2025, a signals technician called train control to request a 10-kilometre-per-hour (km/h) Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) be placed on Rayonier Crossing (the crossing) near Mataura to carry out signals maintenance work.
The signals maintenance work included carrying out testing of bonding wires in a cabinet close to the rail line and the crossing.
The train controller acknowledged the call and carried out administrative tasks required to impose the TSR.
At about 1149, Train 931, heading towards North Edendale siding, passed through Mataura, approximately 2.5 kilometres (km) north of the crossing.
The locomotive engineer (LE) of Train 931 was unaware of the 10 km/h speed restriction and, at 1151, travelled through the crossing at 77 km/h.
Both signals technicians, alerted by the train’s horn, heard the train approaching and were clear of the railway track when the train went past.
No one was injured and no damage occurred.
Why it happened
The train controller annotated the train control graph but did not advise the single train in the area of the speed restriction because they were waiting for the LE to call at Mataura.
The LE did not call train control immediately when they had cleared Mataura station limits and went through the crossing before train control advised them of the TSR.
The work at the crossing was unplanned and not listed on the daily information bulletin (DIB).
The initial call by the signals technician to train control to establish the TSR was made by telephone rather than over the radio. This meant an opportunity was missed for other rail workers in the area to gain important information over an open radio channel.
What we can learn
Compliance with safe working rules and procedures is necessary to protect all rail workers. Non-compliance can lead to near misses, incidents or accidents.
Who may benefit
Any staff involved in safety-critical activities and their managers may benefit from the findings in this report.