The Greymouth Star was waiting near the corner of Carroll and Ranfurly streets yesterday for the first train loaded with Birchfield Coal.
About half of all cars drove straight over the railway line without stopping, some at a good speed, in the minutes before the train came.
The car photographed did stop, but then went anyway.
A KiwiRail spokesman today apologised that no formal notification had been given that the rail line was reopening.
"That was an error on our part which we will learn from. We will work hard in future to ensure early communications around services."
He said the train was travelling at just 10kmh through Runanga, but reminded drivers to stop.
KiwiRail took safety seriously and its normal practice was to alert communities in the week before trains restarted.
At all crossings controlled by a give way or stop sign, drivers must come to a complete stop behind the yellow lines next to the stop sign, and before the railway line.
"Only cross the railway line if you are sure there are no trains coming in either direction, and there are no vehicles stopped in front of you."
With the reopening of the coalmine, train movements between Rapahoe and Greymouth will be regular in the coming months.
- Laura Mills
