KiwiRail issues warning after young people on tracks force train to stop
KiwiRail is reminding people of the dangers of railway corridors after a train was forced to hit the brakes to avoid young people on the tracks in Wairarapa yesterday.
Two individuals were seen playing on the tracks at the Bell Street level crossing in Featherston around 6.30pm last night as a commuter train was approaching, a KiwiRail spokesperson said.
The Masterton-bound train managed to stop “well clear of the individuals” and Kiwirail reported the incident to police.
The close call has prompted a reminder about railway safety, with KiwiRail saying it is “highly dangerous to enter the rail corridor”.
A post in the Wairarapa Commuters Facebook page said the train driver was “a hero” for managing to stop, saying the situation could have led to “our community having devastating consequences and news waking up this morning”.
The anonymous poster advised parents to talk to their children about the dangers of playing on the train tracks.
“As the train was coming to a stop, the girls ran off like nothing had happened,” the post read.
Police told the Herald the young people had fled by the time officers arrived after the incident, and have not been identified.
Locals were outraged over the incident, sending support to the driver and urging parents to better control their children.
“Oh how terrifying for the poor train driver,” one commenter said.
“Where are the parents?” another wrote.
Not-for-profit group TrackSAFE says trespassing is the leading cause of railway deaths in New Zealand, with more than 100 people dying on tracks, tunnels and bridges in the past decade.
TrackSAFE urges anyone who witnesses someone trespassing on tracks to call 111 immediately.
The Railways Act 2005 states a person is trespassing if they cross or walk along tracks at a place other than a designated crossing.
Trespassing on railway tracks can lead to a fine of up to $10,000.