At about 1615 hours on 12 December 1994, Train F29, a Napier to Wellington express freight, collided with a Hi-Rail vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the line. Nobody was injured, although the Hi-Rail vehicle was severely damaged. Causal factors involved fitness for duty and failure to clarify the Ganger's location requirements geographically. It was recommended that the Train Control Officer's requirement to establish the position of the required access to the track be extended to those requiring the access.
