The NZ Transport Agency has given an undertaking to implement the urgent recommendations resulting from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission’s (TAIC) investigation into the death of a pedestrian at Morningside train station in January this year.
Acting Rail Safety Director Leigh Mitchell says the Transport Agency will provide oversight to the recommendations to ensure they are addressed to improve rail safety for New Zealanders and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring again in the future.
The Transport Agency holds a number of responsibilities relating to level crossing safety. It is the regulator of rail safety for all New Zealand rail operations and is a road controlling authority for parts of New Zealand’s road network.
"We will be working across the Transport Agency and with other parties including KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, TransDev and local road controlling authorities to establish the appropriate methods and timeframes for implementing these recommendations," said Ms Mitchell.
"In our capacity as rail safety regulator, our number one priority is ensuring that rail operators make the rail corridor as safe as possible for passengers, rail workers and road users. We have a focus on level crossings for both pedestrians and vehicles as these are the areas where there is potential for serious incidents to occur.”
