Executive summary
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.
Related Recommendations
Circulate to all heritage and narrow gauge railway operators the lessons learned from this investigation and require an assessment of risk focused on passenger safety, be undertaken by each operator with the results being submitted to Land Transport Safety Authority for approval.
Take immediate steps to improve the safety of the passengers by installing a suitable barrier and door arrangement, with child resistant locking devices fitted to any moveable components, at such a height along the open side of each passenger carriage to minimise the risk of children falling from the carriage.