Engineer airlifted to hospital after train accident

A locomotive engineer has been flown to Greymouth Hospital after being involved in an accident on the TranzAlpine this morning.

The male engineer was injured about 11.30am while coupling locomotives at Westland's Otira railway station, Kiwirail spokesman Nigel Parry said.

St John ambulance spokesman Ian Henderson said the man's injuries were moderate.

Mr Parry said Kiwirail was still trying to establish how the accident happened and the nature of the engineer's injuries.

As a result of the accident the train service would be 50 minutes late arriving into Greymouth, he said.

- NZPA