On Wednesday 7 March 2001 at about 2233 Train 531, a southbound express freight train collided with the rear of Train 547, another southbound express freight service which had stalled on the Mokoia Bank between Whareroa and Mokoia on the Marton to New Plymouth Line. Train 531 had entered the section and was going to assist Train 547 when the collision occurred. The locomotive engineer of Train 547 had not protected the rear of his disabled train to warn the locomotive engineer of Train 531 as he approached.
Safety issues identified included:
· the effectiveness of the process for identifying and confirming the location of a disabled train
· the effectiveness of the track warrant theory recertification process in identifying any shortcomings in rules knowledge of operating staff
· control of locomotive engineers’ hours of duty.
Three safety recommendations were made to the operator covering these issues.