Rocks deliberately placed on tracks delay train

A train struck a small pile of rocks deliberately placed on the tracks just south of Palmerston North yesterday. File photo / Thinkstock

An Overlander passenger train was damaged after rocks were deliberately placed on the tracks near Palmerston North yesterday.

A KiwiRail spokeswoman said the train struck a small pile of rocks deliberately placed on the tracks just south of Palmerston North about 5pm yesterday while it was heading towards Wellington.

There was "slight" damage to the train's brakes and it was delayed for 20 minutes while workers repaired the damage on site, she said.

Placing rocks on tracks was an "act of stupidity" and the matter had been referred to police, she said.

- NZPA