logo
Train driver taken to hospital after train, truck collide in Auckland

Train driver taken to hospital after train, truck collide in Auckland

RNZ Newsa day ago

Photo:
Supplied by Kiwirail
KiwiRail says a freight train and a truck collided at a "passive crossing", which isn't controlled by bells, flashing lights or barrier arms.
Emergency services were called to the incident at Kiwi Street in the suburb of Favona about 7.45pm on Wednesday.
St John Ambulance said one person was taken to hospital in a minor condition.
KiwiRail said its rail operator was taken to hospital for an assessment but did not receive any injuries, and has since been discharged.
"The Kiwi Street rail crossing is a passive crossing in that it is controlled by signage rather than bells, flashing lights or barrier arms," it said in a statement.
It confirmed that this meant it was up to drivers of vehicles to check for any oncoming trains.
KiwiRail said it was too early to determine the cause of the incident, but it would be gathering information about previous incidents at that crossing as part of the investigation.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Crash causes traffic congestion near Fieldays site in Waikato
Crash causes traffic congestion near Fieldays site in Waikato

RNZ News

time3 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Crash causes traffic congestion near Fieldays site in Waikato

Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin The Tamahere off-ramp on State Highway 1 is closed following a crash, causing extensive traffic delays for those heading to Fieldays. The crash happened just before 7am and involved three vehicles in the southbound lane. There are no significant injuries but there is traffic congestion back towards Hamilton. NZ Transport Agency is asking motorists to take care as they pass the crash site. SH1 TAMAHERE, WAIKATO – CRASH – 7:15AM Due to a crash on SH1 Tamahere, lane 1 prior to Airport Rd off-ramp is currently blocked. Pass with care and expect delays. ^AA

Firefighters struggling with ageing truck fleet
Firefighters struggling with ageing truck fleet

RNZ News

time3 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Firefighters struggling with ageing truck fleet

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon The firefighters union says overheating equipment in a 28-year-old fire truck is symptomatic of the workers' ageing tools. The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union said a power converter ignited and burned out in the cab of the vehicle as it returned from a factory fire. It said it triggered an evacuation and crew to get fire extinguishers at the ready. Fire and Emergency said no fire was involved. The union's Tauranga branch secretary Mike Swanson told Morning Report elderly trucks were being used more than ever. "They are there to replace frontline appliances as they go to service but they never seem to get a rest themselves because they've been pushed around from station to station." Swanson said there were new trucks on the way but they would take some time to arrive. "Till the new ones come in, we don't get another truck." In a statement, FENZ said the truck had an electrical issue which meant it gave off a burning smell. "Our firefighters and support staff reacted promptly, and the charger was replaced within an hour." The spokesperson said an alternative truck was available and still is, should an urgent issue arise. They said they had a replacement programme and that 70 new trucks were on order. "Since 2017 around 317 new trucks have been added to the Fire and Emergency fleet." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

In its 57th year, Fieldays is still a hit for farmers across the country
In its 57th year, Fieldays is still a hit for farmers across the country

RNZ News

time6 hours ago

  • RNZ News

In its 57th year, Fieldays is still a hit for farmers across the country

Over 100,000 people attend the annual Fieldays at Mystery Creek Photo: Stephen Barker When Fieldays first kicked off in Te Rapa 57 years ago, farmers could get their boots shined. Those days are over, but it is still the place where farmers go to dream. And spend. And watch competitions like the tractor pull. It is the place you can buy a tractor for $500,000, or get the latest in rural fashion. More than 1000 exhibitors from drone makers to kiwifruit leather inventors are at the largest rural expo in the Southern Hemisphere to sell their products, do commercial deals or simply introduce their products and services to the crowds. Despite the concrete paths, gumboots were a popular choice of footwear at the 2025 Fieldays Photo: Davina Zimmer Retired dairy farmer Mike from Ōhaupō in Waikato has only missed one Fieldays, when he was in London. He tells The Detail how he has watched the event grow from its agricultural roots. "We were always dreaming to get ahead. It's a different sort of show now," he says. "You'd go and polish your boots, but that's gone because it would cost them big money to have a stall here." But one feature that's lasted for the past five decades is the tractor pull. Tractor pull organiser and champion Dan Reymer says heavy rain has made this year's track difficult, a real test of the drivers' skills. Daniel Reymer with The Detail's Sharon Brettkelly Photo: Davina Zimmer "It's the slowest and hardest we've ever seen," he says. "It's the same as the paddock and the farm: you have to adapt your machine to suit the conditions." When this "tractor and machinery nut" is not pulling slabs of concrete in a race, he is out checking the new machinery. But with prices in the hundreds of thousands, he doesn't dare dream of buying anything. He says that the family contracting business just spent "over a mil" on a new harvester. At the Polaris stand Andrew Simpson, aka 'Simmo', is demonstrating a new light utility vehicle, commonly known as a side-by-side. "This is my sandpit," he says as he steers it up a steep track. Simpson runs a training business that teaches people how to safely operate farm vehicles, some of which have been responsible for a number of farm deaths and accidents. "There's still deaths happening. It's not just quads but also side-by-sides. But with these we've got roll protection, we've got seatbelts. So that's one of the key things, we've got to wear a seatbelt because if we were to tip it over and we got chucked out that would kill us. Tractors raced each other pulling concrete blocks weighing several tonne. Photo: Davina Zimmer "Historically we've seen that happening, people don't wear their seatbelts, or they take their doors off, they take their nets off ... and they expose themselves to a lot more risk." The Detail also talks to two Chinese businessmen who are looking for new customers for their agrochemicals. They say there is nothing like Fieldays in China for basic farmers, and it is difficult to describe what it is like to people back home. "It's amazing. This experience is something you can only imagine." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store