07/06/2026
The Khandallah train incident last night was concerning - a call that anyone in the industry dreads. Our thoughts at Greater Wellington / Metlink are with those on board and injured in this event. So very grateful there were no fatalities.
While the images of the Matangi train are very dramatic, both it and the track system did their job.
If a train passes a red signal at Khandallah, it is diverted to a runoff line to prevent any risk of collision with another train. At the end of this short section of runoff line is a stop block - basically a large concrete paperweight. The stop block’s job is to prevent the train travelling further - in this case down an embankment towards houses. The stop block did its job.
The carriages also appear to have responded as designed. The Matangi units are modern trains designed with a crumple zone to absorb impact - in this case the impact with the stop block. Those crumple zones have absorbed impact which may otherwise have resulted in fatalities.
Independent investigators from the Tranoort Accident investigation Authority (TAIC) were on scene last night and have continued their investigation through the day.. The facts will be determined by TAIC and made public as is appropriate.
The line is likely to be out of action until Wednesday/Thursday this week. Once initial investigations are completed the train will be pulled back to Khandallah Station and hauled out by road.
Finally, big shout out to KiwiRail, Transdev Australia & New Zealand, -Rotem,
Wellington Free Ambulance. New Zealand Police, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington / Metlink staff for fast responses to this incident. You know Wellington is a Village when people drop what they are doing to help out.
"Munted" is how one onlooker has described the mangled remains of the train that crashed on Wellington's Johnsonville line.
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