The man who died when his car was hit by a train yesterday in Blenheim has been named.
Rex Watchman, 78, of Blenheim, died when his car was hit by a the Christchurch-bound TranzCoastal passenger train at the Kinross St crossing about 1.40pm.
Mr Watchman was the onlyoccupant of the car and he died at the scene.
A number of people saw the crash, including passengers on the train, Constable Dan Mattison of Blenheim police told the Marlborough Express.
KiwiRail communications manager Nigel Parry said none of the 163 passengers on the train was injured.
"There has been no damage to the carriages, and slight damage to the locomotive," he said.
Mr Parry said he did not know what speed the train was travelling at "but it would not have been very high" as the accident happened only a few hundred metres from Blenheim station.
He confirmed the crossing was fitted with flashing lights and alarm bells which were working at the time of the accident, but there were no barrier arms.
