RO-2002-112

On Saturday 4 May 2002, at approximately 1150, a child fell from a carriage of Train 1337, the Rain Forest Express, while it was travelling through Tunnel 29 on the Nihotupu Tramline. The child was seriously injured when he was crushed between a 610 mm diameter water pipeline and the moving train.

The safety issues identified were:
• the lack of physical constraints on passenger carriages to prevent passengers from falling out while the train was in motion
• the adequacy and construction of the compartment doors
• the staffing of the train
• the effectiveness of the risk analysis assessment procedure

One safety recommendation was made to the operator.