On Wednesday 7 August 2002, at about 1335, train control gave authority for westbound express freight Train 484 to depart Tauranga and enter a section of track already occupied by a hi-rail vehicle travelling towards the train.
Some minutes after the train departed, the train controller in-training realised he had set up a potential collision so he contacted the locomotive engineer and instructed him to stop the train. When the train stopped, about 300 m separated the train and the hi-rail vehicle.
The safety issues identified included:
* the incorrect procedures for handling track user inquiries
* the non-application of signal “blocking commands” to protect the hi-rail vehicle movement
* the training and certification of new entrant train controllers on additional train control desks soon after their initial certification
* the absence of a familiarisation site visit prior to certification on a train control desk.
Safety recommendations have been made to the managing director of Tranz Rail to address these issues.
