Crossing safety improvements urged after fatal Auckland train accident

Man dies at crossing where local says there have been three incidents in three years.

A man died after being hit by a train at Morningside last night, prompting calls for improvements at the rail crossing.

KiwiRail spokeswoman Jenni Austin said two trains were at the crossing at the time of the accident. One had just passed through and a second, westbound service carrying 140 passenger hit the man just before 7pm.

The man, believed to have been in his 20s, died at the scene and all services were halted on the Western Link line until police finished their investigation.

Witnesses told the Herald a young woman arrived just after 8pm. Police escorted her up a platform to where the body was. She was seen crying. A hearse took the body shortly afterwards and a few members of the public stood with their heads bowed as the vehicle drove past.

The wheelchair sits at the scene at Morningside Drive rail crossing. Photo / Brett Phibbs

While the circumstances of the death were unclear, last night residents said there had been at least three serious accidents there and improvements were needed.

In 2012, a 22-year-old woman suffered horrific injuries after her wheelchair became stuck in the crossing. Two bystanders rushed to help when they saw a train approaching, but could not free her wheelchair in time and had to throw it out of the train's path.

KiwiRail accepted responsibility after an investigation found the crossing was in a "degraded condition".

Safety measures at Morningside include barrier arms and lights, however locals say the crossing is still dangerous. One said it was the third such accident at the crossing since he moved in three years ago.

"There was a guy hit and then a woman who was on her wheelchair -- and now this one," said the man, who did not want to be identified.

"I feel for his family."

Another said sometimes locals run across even when the train's coming. "I've done it myself. I'm never going to do that again."

Ms Austin said lights and barriers were operating at the time of last night's accident.

A Spokesman for Auckland Transport said services resumed about 9pm last night.

"It is a police investigation now so we will leave it to police," he said.

Spokesman for the Transport Accident Investigation Committee (TAIC) Peter Northcote said they were expecting to receive notification of last night's accident.

He said until they received notification he was unsure as to whether TAIC would be conducting its own investigation into the incident.

The train driver was receiving counselling.