RO-2025-102 Safe working incident, Port Chalmers marshalling yard, 23 January 2025

The reported circumstances were that a safe working incident occurred during shunting operations at the Port Chalmers freight marshalling yard at about 1:25am on 23 January 2025. 

On the track leading into the South end of the marshalling yard, a remote-control operator and a rail operator were working to couple up a shunt locomotive to a rake of freight wagons (a set of coupled wagons). Both workers noticed shadows of something big moving toward them from the North. They stepped out from where they were working in time to avoid what happened next. Another rake of nine freight wagons rolled uncontrolled from the marshalling yard, and the runway rake’s lead wagon ran into the locomotive. 

Reportedly there was moderate damage to the coupling area where the workers had been. No injuries were reported. 

[As initially reported. Subject to change. Not official Findings].