Manufacturing fault likely reason for Te Huia's carriages separating mid-journey

Monday, 9 August 2021

A faulty coupler is the reason two carriages separated on track.

The reason two commuter train carriages dramatically detached on tracks has been explained by KiwiRail as a manufacturing fault.

Two carriages on the Te Huia Hamilton to Auckland passenger train separated recently while travelling between Papakura and Paerata.

Automatic brakes kicked in and stopped both parts of the train, and the 56 passengers and three crew disembarked unharmed at Pukekohe.

“This is quite a serious incident that occurred,” KiwiRail acting executive general manager of tourism and marketing David Shepherd told Waikato councillors at a recent meeting.

KiwiRail acting executive general manager tourism and marketing David Shepherd (far right), spoke at a Waikato Regional Council regional connections' committee meeting about a recent incident where train carriages separated on tracks.

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Waikato mayors test ride the passenger service to Huntly (Video first published in March 2021).

Interim findings in a KiwiRail investigation “pointed strongly” to a manufacturing fault with the coupler – the mechanism which joins the carriages together.

The coupler error wasn’t due to KiwiRail’s installation process or any operator fault, Shepherd said at a Waikato Regional Council regional connections' committee meeting.

But the “major” incident prompted the manufacturer to put out an international call for testing, which identified another faulty coupler in the Unites States.

“It’s a kicker for us that the second service with this particular coupler failed for us.”

The Strand railway station in Parnell, Auckland. Waikato councillors are lobbying for the Hamilton to Auckland passenger train to arrive there each day, rather than just Saturdays.

Shepherd said KiwiRail must now replace the couplers.

A final report on the incident, led by regulator Waka Kotahi-NZ Transport Agency, was yet to be concluded.

“My hope is that this never happens again, I’ve been in the rail business for 20 years and this is the first one on my watch.”

The possibility of Te Huia reaching Puhinui Station and The Strand was also discussed at the meeting.

Waikato councillors want Te Huia to run right through central Auckland, without changing to an AT train, because it will boost passenger numbers.

They’ve also stressed the strategic importance of getting Te Huia to the $69 million Puhinui Station, because it has a direct transfer to Auckland airport every 12 minutes.

Hamilton City Councillor Ewan Wilson argued it was possible Te Huia could run to these areas each day now, but Auckland Transport was reluctant to let the train through on the heavily congested network.

Shepherd agreed Te Huia could run to downtown Auckland, but questioned whether it would delay the journey.

He wanted feedback from Auckland Transport about whether a 10-minute delay was a “best case or worst case” scenario.

“To make that step change, that leap of faith out of their cars, [our commuters] put a huge weight of trust on us as the operator to ensure we deliver a reliable service.”