021/12

KiwiRail’s predecessors determined that the Wellington rail electric multiple unit commuter service was not a single-person operation. Irrespective of whether these trains were a "single-person" or a "two-person" operation, as a consequence, the radio system fitted to these trains did not have selcall capability and could not send an alert to train control automatically when there was a rapid drop in brake pipe pressure such as when the driver makes an emergency brake application. Any delay in train control being alerted to an accident or incident within the double-tracked commuter network is a safety issue. The Commission recommends to the Chief Executive of NZ Transport Agency that he address this safety issue.