‘Power issues:’ Speed reduction for trains after 10 Hastings crossings affected

A pair help lift barrier arms on Queen St in Hastings to let traffic through on Monday. Photo / Warren Buckland

KiwiRail has reduced train speeds after ongoing power-supply issues continue to affect barrier arms at 10 level crossings in Hastings.

The company’s executive general manager operations, Paul Ashton, confirmed on Wednesday that a 10km speed limit is in place on all trains passing through the level crossings.

“Staff are working to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” he said. “We ask that all vehicles and pedestrians passing through level crossings take extra precaution and look both ways before doing so.”

The public was alerted to the problem after barrier arms came down at level rail crossings across Hastings at 3pm on Monday, but no trains were running.

The bells were ringing and lights were flashing lights as the barriers remained down, causing traffic gridlock for a time.

A motorist said pedestrians were taking their chances and dashing across the tracks during the malfunction in the centre of the city at the corner of Eastbourne St and Railway Rd.

A KiwiRail spokesperson earlier said the issue was due to power supply problems.

“Crossing alarm and barrier systems are designed to ‘fail safe’ under such circumstances so the barrier arms came down, preventing vehicles from crossing the rail line.

“Police arrived on each site to coordinate traffic and KiwiRail signals staff arrived shortly after and have manually raised the barrier arms, allowing traffic to flow.”

Two men lifted the railway barrier arm to allow traffic through while Hastings Assist helped direct traffic on Monday.