On Saturday, 12 July 1997, at about 0322 hours an empty container on Train 320, a Mount Maunganui to Westfield express freight train, struck a footbridge at Puhinui, south of Auckland. The footbridge pier was badly damaged, as was a road overbridge further north, before the container fell from the train, blocking the adjacent down main. There were no injuries.
The cause of the collision was movement of an inadequately restrained container. Safety issues identified were: twistlock serviceability; compliance with container security requirements; compliance monitoring of container security; and the suitability of the Mount Maunganui resources and operational practices to deal safely and effectively with the traffic offering.
