A train driver whose carriage went off the rails in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah last week was also responsible for a commuter train overrunning the end of the track in Johnsonville four months ago, Tranz Rail confirmed yesterday.
The driver has been stood down on full pay until the company
completes its investigation into the accident.
Tranz Rail spokesman Alan McDonald said it was still investigating the cause of the derailment. A signal failure had been ruled out.
Mr McDonald confirmed the driver was also involved in the Johnsonville accident in which a train, carrying 20 people, overran the end of a track early on October 18.
No one was hurt but the driver - who had recently been trained - was found to have been in error and was disciplined, Mr McDonald said.
In August 2000, Tranz Rail admitted at a ministerial inquiry into occupational safety and health that its safety record needed improving.
Fifteen Tranz Rail workers have died in work-related accidents since 1993, and 60 have been seriously injured since 1995.
Mr McDonald said drivers underwent comprehensive training. Sixteen people had been trained last year in a course that involved a two-week induction, four weeks at the Wellington training centre (including time on a simulator), three weeks on an empty train with a driver, and nine weeks on a passenger train with a driver. A further 16 people were at present on the course.
The company had strict policies if a driver was found to have made mistakes, which could involve their being stood down, recertified, checked for medical problems and receiving a formal caution.
It did not believe people were at risk.
Land Transport Safety Authority spokesman Andy Knackstedt said Tranz Rail had recently trained several new drivers for commuter trains in Wellington.
"LTSA has seen no evidence that the newer drivers are involved in more accidents than their more experienced colleagues."
- NZPA
