Executive summary
At about 1345 hours on Saturday, 26 June 1999, a vintage steam train operated by the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway was on a scheduled passenger trip from Opua to Kawakawa when the track spread and the locomotive and the following two carriages derailed at low speed. No injuries to the crew or passengers resulted. Safety issues identified included the standard of track maintenance and the adequacy of the track inspection. Two safety recommendations were made to the operator, and two to the Director of the Land Transport Safety Authority to address the safety issues.
Related Recommendations
clarify the skill level and frequency of inspections required as part of the BVR approved safety system and ensure that the individuals approved within the Preservation Society to carry out each level of inspection are defined
ensure inspection requirements included in rail service operation safety systems clearly define: • the type of inspections required • the frequency of each inspection • the persons who can carry out each inspection.
give increased emphasis to the quality and frequency of inspections as key parameters for auditing the performance of rail operators to their approved safety system.