Executive summary
On 23 December 1993 Train 404 collided with a motor vehicle near Ruakura. The safety issues identified in the investigation were the siting of trackside structures, the frangibility of trackside structures, the speed of the railcar and the timetable of the railcar service, and the conspicuity of level crossing flashing lights against the sun at low angles of elevation.
Related Recommendations
Review passenger service timetables to ensure the elapse times take into account, the speeds necessary for Locomotive Engineers to arrive at crew changeover positions on time.
Encourage Locomotive Engineers to draw attention to any timetables which could not be achieved within normal running speeds.
Investigate the practicability of "delethalising" the level crossing environment progressively be removing obsolete substantial obstructions, and relocating signal stanchions, equipment housings and other essential structures, sited within 500m of track distance from any level crossing, so that they were at least 5 m from the trackside and investigate the practicality of improving the frangibility of warning light/barrier masts so that they minimised the damage inflicted on vehicles which collided with rail vehicles.