RO-2005-105 Express freight Train 829, track occupation irregularity, Kokiri, 3 February 2005

On Thursday 3 February 2005, at about 0714, Train 829, a Christchurch to Greymouth express freight service, entered the limits of an authorised track occupation area at Phoenix Meat Company siding, Kokiri. The locomotive engineer became aware of the occupation only when he approached the siding to perform a scheduled shunt.

One of the track maintenance personnel working at the site within the authorised area was alerted to the proximity of Train 829 when he contacted train control to seek an extension to the occupation.

There were no injuries or equipment damage.

Safety issues identified included:

· fatigue arising from rostering procedures for train controllers
· the use of rostered off duty train controllers to meet short-term staff shortages in train control
· safeguarding track occupations in Single Line Automatic Signalling areas.

One safety recommendation has been made to the Chief Executive of ONTRACK to address these issues.