Wine train derails

SAM BAKER/Manawatu Standard

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE: A wagon off the rails after Thursday night's derailment near Tokomaru.

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There were scenes of destruction in Tokomaru after a train carrying wine and other goods crashed off the tracks last night, sending twisted metal and liquid flying in all directions.

An "explosion" was heard throughout the small Horowhenua village when the four northbound train wagons derailed near Rewa Rewa Rd about 8.30pm.

No-one was injured but there was extensive damage to the wagons and rail sleepers.

Tokomaru Chief Fire Officer Dave Gifkins, who lives in the village, was amazed at the extent of the damage.

"It was just carnage. One of the tanks is just destroyed. To see huge bits of steel just ripped off... It's hard to imagine the force that would've caused it, but obviously there's a huge amount of weight behind it."

One of the wagons was still sitting on the tracks, but two others were on their sides and one was upside down, he said.

Mr Gifkins said everyone in Tokomaru heard the derailment, which sounded like a "huge explosion".

He said the derailed carriages were leaking when he arrived.

"It was bulk wine. It didn't smell like I'd want to drink it."

Firefighters from Tokomaru, Palmerston North and Linton were called to investigate whether potentially hazardous substances in other wagons had leaked.

Mr Gifkins said other carriages marked hazardous were still connected to the train and did not appear to have been damaged.

KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said the derailment would affect train services throughout the lower North Island today.

"It will affect the Capital Connection out of Palmerston North and the running of the Overlander out of Wellington."

Cranes were to be brought over farmland to rerail the three wagons that were still off the track, Mr Ramshaw said. The tracks would likely reopen this afternoon.

One tank had leaked a "considerable amount" of wine but the overall loss was not large. An investigation would be held.

- © Fairfax NZ News