List of rail accidents in New Zealand

2020-present

• 10 February 2020, Flaxton, Canterbury - the northbound Coastal Pacific collided with a truck at a level crossing south of Rangiora. The 31-year-old truck driver died at the scene.

  2010–2019

• 5 Apr 2019, Milson, Palmerston North - A log train struck an overbridge, derailing six wagons, with one overturning. There were no injuries. Closure of the main trunk line caused significant disruption to rail freight traffic.
• 9 May 2018, Britomart Transport Centre, Auckland – The front three cars of an inbound train derailed in the Britomart tunnel on the approach to the platforms and stopped millimetres from a concrete wall. The emergency brakes were activated and no injuries were recorded. The derailed AM class units took several days to clear. The TAIC investigation found that a manufacturing defect in a rail caused the rail to fracture.
• 25 November 2017, Reefton – The driver of a car died after the car struck a power pole and ended up across railway tracks, where it was then hit by a train.
• 20 October 2017, Masterton – A passenger train collided with the trailer of a logging truck. The collision scattered logs across the road, but no injuries were reported.
• 27 May 2014, Melling, Lower Hutt – While operating a Wellington to Melling commuter service, "Matangi" FP/FT 4472 overshot Melling station and collided with the stop block and overhead traction pole at the end of the line. Two passengers were hospitalised for minor injuries and shock. This incident should not be confused with the almost identical incident at the same station on 15 April 2013.
• 2 March 2014, Otahuhu - An empty southbound passenger train returning to Westfield Depot derailed near Westfield Junction just before 2am. The DC locomotive and first SA carriage left the track, with the locomotive coming to rest on its side and the carriage remaining upright. The driver and train manager sustained minor injuries. The TAIC investigation identified two safety issues.
• 27 February 2014, Rangiriri - The southbound Northern Explorer travelling from Auckland to Wellington with 108 passengers on board collided with an articulated truck at the level crossing on Te Onetea Road. The 28-year-old driver of the truck died at the scene. The TAIC investigation found two safety issues contributing to the accident.
• 3 September 2013, Mercer - A northbound freight train derailed, leaving one carriage lying across the tracks, and two containers stranded on the road. An investigation is pending, but KiwiRail suspects that the incident was due to a mechanical fault.
• 20 May 2013, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington – The rear car of a morning southbound commuter train derailed just south of Kaiwharawhara station. Split pins had not been fitted to bolts on a spring park brake cylinder when the train was serviced ten weeks earlier; the cylinder came off the car and jackknifed the nearby air reservoir tanks, pushing the car off the rails and punching a hole in the carriage floor. Four passengers suffer minor injuries.
• 15 April 2013, Melling, Lower Hutt - at approximately 7.54 am, the two-car "Matangi" FP/FT 4149 failed to stop and collided with the stop block at Melling station at a speed of approximately 25 km/h. Nine passengers and two crew were on board. The KiwiRail investigation determined that driver error was the cause. This incident should not be confused with the almost identical incident at the same station on 27 May 2014.
• 31 October 2011, Paekakariki, Wellington – A 12.6-metre-long three-axle low-floor bus became stuck on the Beach Road level crossing waiting at a stop sign to turn right onto State Highway 1, and was hit by a southbound freight train. No injuries were reported. The accident was caused by the bus stopping in a position where its single driving axle was off the ground above a drain, combined with an insufficient 'stacking distance' between the level crossing and State Highway 1, meaning any vehicle over 10 metres long could not stop without encroaching either the railway line or the State Highway.
• 1 February 2011, Ngaio, Wellington. At about 1 pm a Johnsonville bound suburban multiple electric unit derailed at the passing loop switch when leaving Ngaio station and ran off through a barrier fence, stopping about a metre into the station carpark. Although no one was injured, about 16 passengers were kept on board the train for around 20 minutes until the overhead electricity could be turned off, so they could disembark and continue on their journey by replacement bus. Services were replaced by buses for the afternoon but were restored by 7 pm. A crane was used to rerail the train. KiwiRail intended to investigate the cause of the derailment.
• 12 January 2011, Flint Road level crossing, Stratford – About 9:15 am a New Plymouth bound freight train collided with a utility vehicle at a level crossing controlled only by stop signs, killing one person and seriously injuring two others in the vehicle. This was the fifth crash, and second fatality, at this crossing since 1992. Local residents considered the crossing was an accident waiting to happen because it was close to the highway, had limited visibility and many drivers did not stop for the crossing. They felt that barrier arms were needed. At the time of the crash, KiwiRail had been intending to install flashing lights at the crossing within the next two years, as it was high on the priority list to be upgraded.
• 30 September 2010, Plimmerton, Wellington – At about 3.15pm a mid-afternoon northbound Wellington to Paraparaumu electric multiple unit hit a landslide on the line north of Plimmerton and derailed into the path of a southbound Paraparaumu to Wellington multiple unit; two injured. The drivers of the multiple units, who happened to be father and son, both survived by flinging themselves from their respective driving compartments moments before impact. The two heavily damaged components of the Ganz-Mavag units were withdrawn from service and the undamaged components marshalled together as a new set. The TAIC investigation found that no special track inspections were made and no speed restrictions were put in place despite rainfall well above average and a site at high risk of landslide.

  2000–2009

• 23 July 2009, Maymorn, Wellington – The locomotive and first carriage of an evening northbound Wairarapa Connection derailed after hitting a mudslide at the exit to the Maoribank Tunnel; no injuries were reported, but the line was blocked for three days.
• 12 June 2008, Bryndwr, Christchurch, Canterbury – Two freighthopping men riding on top of a southbound Main North Line freight train were knocked off after hitting an overhead footbridge and were killed.
• 1 April 2003, Silverstream, Upper Hutt – Upper Hutt to Wellington Express electric multiple unit fatally struck a pedestrian at the Silverstream station crossing, despite warning devices operating. The coroner found pedestrians often ignore warning devices at this crossing and recommended that gates be installed to prevent pedestrians accidentally walking onto tracks. The first gated pedestrian railway crossing was subsequently installed at Silverstream, and served as a prototype for other busy pedestrian crossings.
• 8 December 2000, Christchurch – Two freight trains collided in Middleton Yard after an inbound train failed to heed a danger signal, colliding with an outbound train. One engineer suffered a broken finger.

  1950–1999

• 20 October 1999, Waipahi, Otago – A northbound Main South Line express freight train collided with a stationary southbound freight train after a misunderstanding of track warrant conditions by both train drivers; one killed, one seriously injured. One of the locomotives involved was written off and scrapped.
• 21 October 1998, Rangiora, Canterbury - the northbound Coastal Pacific is unexpectedly diverted into the loop at Rangiora and collides with the rear end of the No. 2 shunt, stabled there awaiting the Coastal Pacific to overtake it. The accident occurred due to the points logic circuits reacting to an unusual shunting movement carried out by the No. 2 shunt earlier and the locomotive engineer of the Coastal Pacific having his attention diverted to looking for passengers on the Rangiora station platform to determine whether or not he would be required to stop at the station. One passenger suffers a broken nose and some members of the train crew sustain minor injuries. The TAIC made five safety recommendations.
• 14 March 1998, Ngāruawāhia – an unsecured load on train 235 hit a bridge while crossing the Waikato River. The train parted and six wagons were derailed with another five severely damaging the bridge. The cause was the movement of inadequately restrained stacked platform containers. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission identified three issues: the serviceability and uniformity of integral interlocking devices fitted to platform containers; the standards for transporting stacked platform containers internationally; and the understanding of and compliance with requirements for transporting stacked platform containers by rail. The TAIC made three safety recommendations.
• 18 June 1997, Glen Innes railway station, Auckland – At about 11:50am an empty Silver Fern railcar returning to its depot and travelling at 80 km/h fatally collided with a pedestrian who had just disembarked from a suburban train travelling in the opposite direction at a pedestrian level crossing without warning devices. The coroner found that the pedestrian was unable to see or hear the railcar, due to the weather and noisy environment, and directed that warning devices be installed at the crossing, as a minimum. Also found that train drivers have a duty of care to pedestrians, despite having right of way, and recommended trains slow down near the station.
• 25 August 1993, Rolleston, Canterbury – The driver of a concrete mixer truck turning right off State Highway 1 failed to notice the level crossing alarms on the George Holmes Road level crossing and collided with the side of the locomotive of a southbound Southerner passenger express. The truck's mixer bowl bounced off the carriages, ripping two open; three killed, seven seriously injured.
• 7 August 1991, Oio, central North Island – Locomotive Engineer Graeme Peter Orange was killed and two 4000 hp EF class electric locomotives were subsequently written off after striking a washout.
• 13 December 1989. Southbound Coastal Pacific Express passenger train derailed when attempting to avoid car versus truck collision on a railway crossing.
• 7 August 1984, Edendale, Southland – An Invercargill to Balclutha shunt derailed after a section of track was washed out; one killed.
• 18 August 1981, Waiouru, Manawatu-Wanganui – A Silver Fern railcar derailed on a curve and fell 8 m down a bank due to a missing speed restriction sign; four killed, 16 injured.
• 19 November 1980 - 3 coach southbound EMU derails after running into slip, north of Bean Pole Fence, on the single track section between Pukerua Bay & Paekakariki;
• 21 May 1980, Otira, West Coast – An eastbound coal train derailed after a 50-metre section of track was washed away during stormy weather. Driver Owen Fitzgerald was trapped in the cab of his locomotive and subsequently drowned.
• 24 March 1980, Wellington, Wellington – During the morning peak period a Porirua to Wellington suburban multiple unit train that was signalled to enter Wellington station crashed head-on into a diesel shunter with six empty carriages leaving the station that had somehow strayed onto the wrong line; two killed, at least 77 injured. Extensive testing found no fault with the signal system. The driver of the shunt locomotive was found not guilty of manslaughter for failing to stop for a red signal.
• 17 October 1979, Wellington, Wellington – A Porirua to Wellington suburban unit rear-ended a stationary Taita to Wellington suburban unit on the approach to Wellington station; at least 44 injured, five seriously.
• 19 March 1979, Matapihi, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty – A freight train went into a washout. One locomotive was written off. The second locomotive Db1014 is rebuilt into Dbr1200.
• 25 May 1978, Pukerua Bay, Wellington – D^A 1470, returning to Wellington light engine from Paekakariki, derailed on a curve due to excessive speed and almost fell onto State Highway 1 below the line; two killed.
• 23 March 1977, Newmarket, Auckland – At around 4:00pm a Wellington-to-Auckland freight train collided with an Auckland-to-Helensville suburban train near the Parnell Tunnel during a widespread signal system power failure after the passenger train failed to stop at a hand-signalled junction and continued running on the wrong line; the driver of the passenger train was killed and both locomotives written off.
• 21 November 1975, Silver Fern derailed in a level-crossing accident. at Feilding.
• 5 November 1975, DA returning to Taumarunui light engine after banking train up to National Park derailed at Raurimu. The driver was killed, while his assistant was injured.
• 24 August 1975; RM 132 caught fire near Eketahuna after debris collected in the inter-carriage bellows. Written off and scrapped at Eketahuna in September 1975.
• 6 May 1975, Freight train collided with passenger vehicle on level crossing in Feilding. One killed.
• 15 February 1971, Dashwood, Marlborough – A Picton to Christchurch railcar collided with a cattle truck on a level crossing; one killed.
• 19 May 1966, Dashwood Pass, Marlborough – A Christchurch to Picton mixed train derailed at the southern portal of Tunnel 22, after the driver took a curve at twice the speed restriction; one killed, two seriously injured.
• 3 November 1962, Te Kauwhata, Waikato – A northbound freight train ran a red signal and crashed into the back of a stationary freight train after the driver of the first train fell asleep at the controls; one killed. This crash sparked the introduction of vigilance devices in diesel locomotives.
• 5 February 1958, Pinedale, Waikato – A Rotorua to Frankton, Hamilton freight train derailed on a curve after an air leak led to brake failure while the train was descending a 2% grade; one killed, one injured.
• 21 October 1957, Wellington, Wellington – A Plimmerton-to-Wellington suburban unit rear-ended an Upper Hutt-to-Wellington suburban unit on the approach to Wellington Station; 23 injured.
• 17 January 1956. Between National Park and Raurimu. Locomotive Jb1229 returning after banking No.227 express to National Park, derailed on a curve before entering the Spiral. Driver and fireman required hospital treatment for burns, abrasions and shock. Excessive speed likely, but speedometer had been removed for repairs before the accident.
• 26 October 1955, Waipuku north of Stratford. The railcar RM30 "Aotea" travelling from Wellington to New Plymouth struck a Ford Prefect car on a private level crossing which gave access to several NZR staff houses, killing three people. The driver Robert Reid, his wife Moera and Arnold Cantwell were returning from the cinema at 11.09 pm, and the railcar was travelling at about 40 mph. The private crossing had poor visibility, and the car driver did not appear to hear the railcar horn. Reid and Cantwell were both NZR employees.
• 20 July 1955, Takapu Road, Wellington – A Paekakariki to Wellington suburban unit, after hitting a slip on the line, derailed into the path of the other line, and was subsequently hit by a Wellington to Paekakariki suburban unit; eight injured, one later dying of their injuries.
• 24 December 1953, Tangiwai, Manawatu-Wanganui – Tangiwai disaster: An overnight Wellington-to-Auckland express fell into the Whangaehu River after part of the rail bridge it was crossing was swept away by a lahar from Mount Ruapehu's crater lake just minutes earlier; 151 killed.
• 5 December 1952, Kaukapakapa, Auckland – A Maungaturoto to Auckland freight train crashed into a stationary Auckland to Opua mixed train standing at Kaukapakapa Station; one killed, one seriously injured.

  1900–1949

• 25 February 1948, Seddon – Six people were killed and 63 injured when the engine tender overturned, causing the engine to also overturn, as the Picton to Christchurch express train was exiting a tightening curve. The driver admitted a "terrific error" in misjudging his speed. A board of inquiry found the driver guilty of driving at excessive speed but a jury found him not guilty of manslaughter and ascribed the accident to "inefficient administration" by assigning an acting first-grade driver, who was not familiar with the route, to drive the train.
• 20 August 1946, Manawatu Gorge – Two engine crew presumed drowned when a goods train was derailed by a slip and fell into the Manawatu river. The body of the driver was recovered from Foxton Beach; the body of the fireman was never found.
• 22 May 1946, Makarewa, Southland – A Tuatapere to Invercargill mixed train rear-ended a stationary workers' train that was about to leave the station; one killed, 4 injured.
• 14 October 1945; at Melling level crossing, Hutt Valley a car collided with a railcar, car driver seriously injured.
• 5 January 1945, Oio near Taumarunui - the Night Limited to Wellington with 400 holiday passengers was derailed by a washout about 10.15 pm; though the engine crossed the gap, five cars were derailed and two passengers needed medical attention.
• 8 November 1943, Haywards, Wellington – An Upper Hutt to Wellington suburban train jumped the tracks on a poorly aligned section of line that had been run down due to wartime conditions; three killed, 28 injured. The steam locomotive hauling the train, W^AB 794, was repaired and is now in preservation.
• 4 June 1943, Hyde, Otago – Hyde railway disaster: A Cromwell to Dunedin passenger train derailed on a curve due to excessive speed and the driver being intoxicated; 21 killed, 47 injured.
• 2 October 1941, Wangaehu, near Whanganui - An Ab class locomotive and 11 trucks fell into the Wangaehu River after at least one of the trucks derailed while approaching the bridge. 0 killed, at least 1 injured including the driver P. J. McLaughlin.
• 28 October 1940, Mercer, Auckland – The locomotive of an overnight Wellington to Auckland express jumped the rails on the approach to its destination; two killed, the driver & fireman; ten seriously injured. The driver was speeding over a tight curve just south of Mercer.
• 26 March 1938, Ratana – Fireman and six passengers killed and over 40 injured, with 13 hospitalised after a Wellington to New Plymouth Good Friday Easter train derailed and the engine overturned on a tight curve after the driver misjudged his speed and location due to fog and the general lack of speed recorders in NZR steam engines. The date or other train name is incorrect as Easter Sunday in 1938 was 17 April, making Good Friday 15 April.
• 18 January 1937, near Arahura, West Coast - A Midland railcar on the Hokitika to Greymouth service was derailed at a level crossing, killing one passenger.
• 9 October 1936, Featherston, Wellington, 1936 Wairarapa accident - A southbound Wairarapa class railcar was blown off the rails during a northwesterly gale; eight injured.
• 30 August 1936, Paraparaumu – The Auckland to Wellington express derailed after hitting a slip. Three passengers taken to hospital with injuries, two discharged, but the other subsequently died.
• 22 March 1929, Paekakariki - The mail train from Palmerston North derailed between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay. Four carriages and guards' van toppled 40 feet down a bank on to the beach. The carriages ended up on their sides and the guards' van upside down. The 30 passengers mostly escaped with just bruises and cuts.
• 22 September 1925, Opapa – Two killed and several others seriously injured after the Wellington to Napier mail train derailed as a result of excessive speed entering a curve. The driver was subsequently convicted of manslaughter.
• 6 July 1923, near Taumarunui, Ongarue railway disaster – An Auckland to Wellington express derailed after hitting a landslide blocking the line; 17 killed, 28 injured.
• 15 May 1919, Mataroa, between Ohakune and Taihape – A runaway goods train derailed at a curve beyond Ngaurukehu station after exceeding 100 miles per hour when Westinghouse brakes failed to respond when applied in the guards van. The train was wrecked, with the contents and parts of wagons being thrown more than 100 yards ahead of the engine. The driver was fatally injured and the fireman severely scalded.
• 8 November 1918, Mataroa, Manawatu-Wanganui – An Auckland to Wellington express derailed after hitting a landslide blocking the line; four killed.
• 27 May 1914, Whangamarino, Waikato – A Wellington to Auckland express train rear-ended a northbound freight train after it passed a faulty semaphore signal that incorrectly displayed clear instead of danger; three dead, five seriously injured.
• 1986, Truck collides with train. One man critically injured other man died due to severe head injury.
• 20 February 1911, Paekakariki. The Napier Express was approaching Paekakariki from the south, when a large boulder dislodged from above on the Paekakariki Escarpment rolled down onto a second class carriage, killing Miss Alice Power from Greymouth who was travelling with two friends.
• 16 October 1907, on Death's Corner a sharp curve near Sefton, the Christchurch-Culverden Express from Culverden had two front loco bogie wheels leave the rails on the incline south of Balcairn Station. The wheels went over a road crossing cattle stop and culvert. The driver applied the air brakes and stopped the train in two train lengths; there were no injuries.
• 3 August 1907, Mamaku Incline, about halfway between Putaruru and Mamaku – When locomotive crew noticed a fault in the second engine hauling a 230 tonne train up the 1 in 36 Mamaku Incline, they stopped the train to investigate the problem. After applying both the Westinghouse brakes and hand brakes on the lead wagons, the crew decoupled the engines from the train to investigate the engine fault further. However, when the Westinghouse brakes lost pressure the train ran backwards down the steep slope and could not be stopped by hand brakes applied in the guard's van and passenger carriage. After passing through Ngatira at 70 miles an hour, the guard's van derailed on an S bend and took the rest of the train over an embankment into a gully, fatally injuring the guard and seriously injuring 5 of 7 other passengers on the train; the wreckage caught fire and 45 cattle beasts were also killed or had to be destroyed, although 37 others survived.
• 29 March 1907, Bankside, 1 mile north of Rakaia – Head-on collision between a northbound troop train and a southbound special train that had not waited at Bankside station for the troop train to pass. Only two persons injured and two horses killed because the passenger carriage behind the southbound engine was empty when it telescoped under the engine tender and was demolished and the horsebox behind the engine on the troop train carried just one person.
• 26 March 1907, Lyttelton – The train carrying passengers to the inter-island ferry ran out of brakes and overran the stop block at the end of the wharf. Fortunately only the front half of the engine went over the end of the wharf, and being of Fairlie's Patent design only the cowcatcher and driving gear fell into the sea. When the driving gear was recovered, the diver also found a goods wagon that had been missing for a year.
• 24 June 1905, Chaneys, near Kaiapoi – Christchurch to Kaiapoi train derailed when an embankment collapsed after being weakened by floodwaters. Two killed and one seriously injured after being crushed between carriages.

  1899 and earlier

• 11 March 1899, Rakaia, Canterbury, Rakaia railway accident – Two Ashburton to Christchurch excursion trains collided when the second train rear-ended the first; four killed, 22 injured.
• 29 March 1888, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington. The Hutt Valley Line was cut by a "southerly buster" with gale-force winds and high tides which washed-out 1.5 km of track, leaving rails and sleepers suspended in mid-air and the evening train from Wellington stranded in the middle. Traffic from Ngauranga to Petone was halted for a week until 6 April after a workforce of 300 men restored the line.
• 11 September 1880, Wellington, Rimutaka Incline railway accident on the Rimutaka Incline – The leading three carriages on a Greytown to Wellington train were blown off the track in strong winds near the Siberia tunnel; three killed, 11 injured.