A train derailment near Khandallah Station in Wellington on Saturday evening left six people injured, with emergency services responding to the incident shortly after 7.20pm.
Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and ambulance crews were called to the scene on the Johnsonville rail line between Box Hill and Khandallah station. Police initially confirmed that a train had derailed and reported that around six passengers had sustained injuries.
“Police and other emergency services are at the scene of a train derailment at Khandallah Station Wellington tonight at about 7.20pm,” Police said in an earlier statement. “It’s reported that about six passengers have sustained injuries.”
Wellington Free Ambulance transported six patients to hospital, including two people reported to have suffered serious injuries.
Police established cordons at Box Hill and Station Road while emergency services worked at the scene and urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area.
The train came to rest near Khandallah Station after leaving the tracks. All passengers were safely removed from the train by emergency responders.
By 9.04pm, Police advised that the cordons had been lifted following the rail incident.
The cause of the derailment has not yet been confirmed and investigations are expected to continue. Rail staff remained on site overnight as recovery operations got underway.
