Newspaper Article 1995 – Train speed studied

Train speed studied

Investigators studying yesterday’s Bay Express derailment were focusing their attention on how a train which left Wellington late was back on time when the accident happened.

The engine and baggage car of the daily Wellington-Napier train left the line near Pukehou about 12.45pm – which would have placed it on time for normal arrival in Hastings about 1.10pm.

A man travelling in the cab of the locomotive with the driver died today of injuries he received in the accident. He was Ira Francis Ngataierua-Tinirau, 28, New Plymouth.

Tranz Rail spokeswoman Christine Seymour confirmed today that the express had left Wellington late and that it had been late at “all points” along the route.

Ms Seymour said she could not confirm that the train was back on schedule at the time of the derailment.

However, she confirmed that investigators both from Tranz Rail and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission were looking into the timing scenario and would be examining the express’s “black box” which records all aspects of the train’s journey.

Eighteen people, three of them the train’s staff, were injured in the derailment.

Mr Ngataierua a former rail employee was travelling in the cab of the locomotive at the time of the accident.

He received severe abdominal injuries. After surgery at Hastings hospital, he was flown to Wellington Hospital at 1am today by the Lowe Walker Air Ambulance. He died about 9.30am.

Ms Seymour said it was understood that Mr Ngataierua joined the train at Waipukurau and that he had the proper authorisation to be in the locomotive cab.

She said it was not uncommon for people to travel in the cab, providing they had permission to do so.

The engine and baggage car left the track on a sweeping right-hand bend. Investigators late yesterday ruled out the possibility of track buckling because of the heat.

Four ambulances and a staff car were used to ferry people to the Hastings hospital, which was already handling four seriously ill patients when the injured from the train were brought in.

“The situation was complicated because of the other patients we were dealing with,” emergency department nurse manager Murielle Schaab said today.

The accident and emergency department treated 19 people from the train. Apart from Mr Ngataierua, all were sent home. Most had shock, bruising and cuts.

Mrs Schaab said the hospital received excellent back-up from members of Victim Support and police.

The 13 passengers who were not hurt were taken to the Hastings police station where a check of identities was completed.

Firemen sprayed foam over about 2000 litres of diesel after the locomotive came to rest on its side, about 50 metres from where it left the track.

The emergency services were also praised today by Tranz Rail. Ms Seymour said the way the people had been handled was exemplary. The rail line was cleared early this morning and the three passenger carriages from the train were taken to Palmerston North. They would be taken to workshops in Wellington and thoroughly checked.

Ms Seymour said the locomotive would remain where it was until 60-tonne cranes from Wellington and Greymouth could be brought in to lift it.

Photo caption – The wreckage of the Bay Express lies strewn across farmland near Pukehou yesterday.
Photo: Bill Craig