Auckland train services back to normal capacity after rail track caused damaged

Friday, 2 July 2021

Train services around Auckland will be back to full service and full capacity from Friday afternoon, two days after a track fault brought services across the city to a halt.

Some trains had been reduced to half the normal number of carraiges after 19 trains were damaged by old rails left too close to the Western line’s tracks on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for Auckland Transport (AT) said 14 of the 19 damaged trains had been repaired, with parts for the remaining five still being sought.

He said track operator KiwiRail was investigating how the incident occurred and talks were ongoing about which organisation would cover costs for the train repairs.

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The spokesman was not able to confirm a timeline for when the remainder would be operating again.

The damage was done to the trains’ dampers – devices designed to absorb shock impulses.

The damage occurred after trains clipped lengths of old rail that had been replaced earlier in the year but has ended up too close to the track.

KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer Todd Moyle said after the rail was removed it was left alongside the track for collection, which was usual practice.

“Over the past week contractors have been cutting and stacking that rail ready for removal. On Wednesday afternoon it was found that a few units had clipped some of this rail,” he said.

Unrelated track work continues on the Southern Line, where reduced frequency and delays continue.