Executive summary
On Sunday 29 September 2002, at about 1240, express freight Train F8829 derailed near Waikokopu, between Wairoa and Gisborne when eight wagons loaded with fertiliser dropped between the running rails while negotiating a tight radius curve.
There were no injuries.
The safety issues identified included:
·the ability of the inspection regime to monitor a known track defect and take timely corrective action
·the absence of standards to define life expired track assets
·the over-loading of wagons conveying fertiliser on the Napier-Gisborne track section.
Three safety recommendations have been made to the Managing Director of Tranz Rail to address these issues.
Related Recommendations
Develop guidelines for the track inspectors to determine when timber sleepers are no longer suitable for continued service.
Critically evaluate the track maintenance regime for the entire rail network to ensure that track standards are maintained appropriate for the line classification and speed category, and where sections of track are identified as being at risk, put in place appropriate defences until corrective action has been taken.
Ensure that the lengths of track for which track inspectors are responsible, are such that appropriate inspections can reasonably be made in the time available.