Derailment closes section of main south rail line

A section of the main south railway line remains closed as KiwiRail staff work to repair damage caused by a derailment north of Dunedin last night.

Nine wagons on a north-bound freight train derailed near Palmerston, 57km northeast of Dunedin about 9pm, damaging 800 metres of track.

Five wagons carrying containerised goods ended up on their sides, but all remained intact, said KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw.

Trains were continuing to run on the main south line between Invercargill and Dunedin today, and between Christchurch and Oamaru.

The section between Oamaru and Dunedin was closed and not expected to reopen before 8pm tomorrow.

The cause of the derailment was being investigated, Mr Ramshaw said.