Executive summary
On Tuesday 19 October 2004 at about 0840, express freight Train 952 collided with a stock truck and trailer at Browns Road level crossing in Dunsandel, between Rolleston and Ashburton. Flashing lights and bells protecting the level crossing were working at the time of the collision.
The locomotive remained upright and on the rails but sustained major damage. The truck and trailer unit was extensively damaged.
The locomotive engineer was uninjured but the truck driver suffered extensive injuries.
The safety issues identified were:
- the adequacy of the warning devices at the level crossing
- the use of land alongside the railway line immediately south of the level crossing.
No safety deficiencies in the rail operating system were identified.
Safety recommendations were made to the Chief Executives of New Zealand Railways Corporation, Transit New Zealand and Selwyn District Council to address these issues.
Related Recommendations
participate with Transit New Zealand and New Zealand Railways Corporation in a review of Browns Road level crossing at Dunsandel to ensure that the design, layout, signage and warning devices, together with the alignment of the road approaches, are appropriate and take steps to rectify any shortcomings identified.
participate with Transit New Zealand and Selwyn District Council in a review of Browns Road level crossing at Dunsandel to ensure that the design, layout, signage and warning devices, together with the alignment of the road approaches are appropriate and take steps to rectify any shortcomings identified.
close the entry and exit points to the land alongside the South Island Main Trunk railway line immediately south of the Browns Road and State Highway 1 intersection to prevent unsafe use.
participate with Selwyn District Council and New Zealand Railways Corporation in a review of Browns Road level crossing at Dunsandel to ensure that the design, layout, signage and warning devices, together with the alignment of the road approaches, are appropriate and take steps to rectify any shortcomings identified.