Taieri Gorge train stopped by fault

One Taieri Gorge train excursion and three freight services had to be cancelled yesterday as repair work was carried out on points and tracks between Mosgiel and South Dunedin caused by a fault in a wagon.

Taieri Gorge Train operations manager Grant Craig said passengers were waiting to leave for the morning excursion, when they were told the railway line was closed.

All of the passengers had been "very good" about it, and when offered either a replacement trip to Palmerston or to rebook for the afternoon trip to Pukerangi, near Middlemarch, most had opted to come back in the afternoon.

KiwiRail public affairs manager Kevin Ramshaw said the undercarriage of one wagon on a northbound general freight train developed a fault on Tuesday night; however, as the wagon did not derail, the fault was not immediately visible.

The train stopped in South Dunedin, where the two containers on the wagon were removed and the wagon tipped off the track by KiwiRail staff.

The incident caused points damage and some track damage, but repairs were completed by 1.15pm yesterday and the line was reopened.

edith.schofield@odt.co.nz

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