On Friday 5 January 2007, at about 2200, the leading bogie of UK6765, the rear wagon on Christchurch to Picton express freight Train 736, derailed at 309.643 kilometres (km) on the Main North Line. The derailed wagon was dragged a further 3.5 km until it struck the south end main line points at Vernon, derailing the wagon immediately in front.
The derailed wagons were pulled another kilometre before the locomotive engineer became aware of the derailed wagons and brought the train to a stop.
There were no injuries.
A safety issue identified was the current track and mechanical tolerance standards.
In view of the safety actions since taken by Toll NZ Consolidated Limited and Ontrack in response to safety recommendations made following similar investigations by the Commission, no further safety recommendations were made.
