Train derailment onto state highway One, Mercer New Zealand
2,737 views · Published 2 September 2013 · 1:55 · Indexed 25 October 2026
Channel: geoffmackley · 2013 · News & Politics
Mercer, New Zealand. Commuters are facing major delays this morning after a train derailed south of Auckland, spilling containers onto part of State Highway One. Emergency services were called to the scene in Mercer around 3.20am. They were initially concerned that hazardous materials were in the conatiners, but now say there is no immediate safety threat. The Fire Service says one carriage from the train came off the rail line and was left badly damaged lying across the tracks. Andy Clarkson, the area commander for the Counties Manukau Fire Service, said two containers landed on a southbound lane on the Southern Motorway. Are you at the scene? Send information, video and images to [email protected] Mr Clarkson said a crane will need to be used to lift the damaged carriage and containers of the road and tracks and put them on a truck so they can be removed from the scene, and then the train will be able to "drive out of the way basically". One container was transporting household cleaning products, while another contained frozen cakes. The hazardous materials unit checked the containers for dangerous goods, including hydrogen peroxide. Ms Dobson said the containers had been dented and were bulging after the goods inside hit the sides when they impacted. She said another train had been heading south and had to slam on its brakes when the carriage of the northbound train went across the rail tracks. The Fire Service said one southbound lane of the Southern Motorway is open for traffic, but the second lane is closed. Advertisement But Mr Clarkson said as traffic gets heavier this morning police are looking at closing both southbound lanes. The two northbound lanes will then be split with one lane accommodating southbound and the other accommodating northbound traffic. KiwiRail is working on getting cranes to the scene so the containers can be removed as quickly as possible. footage copyright www.emergency.co.nz 2013 not for broadcast unless permission granted report from www.tvnz.co.nz
