![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790008092_26_ambulance-file-image-SCOB5AIBFBG2BMEKXLMR3V4TXA.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTransport officials are investigating the death of a person reportedly hit by a heritage train in Te Awamutu last night.<\/p>\n
A Glenbrook Vintage Railway train reportedly “struck a person” at about 6.20pm at Te Awamutu station, according to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.<\/p>\n
Chief investigator Louise Cook said a team was now gathering evidence in the case.<\/p>\n
“Our investigators will focus initially on establishing what happened and identifying any evidence that could assist the inquiry,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Our first priority is to gather evidence while it is available. That includes examining the train and the scene, and speaking with people who witnessed the accident or were involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people had been aboard the steam service, which was travelling from Glenbrook, east of Pukekohe, to National Park and back. <\/p>\n
One passenger said she heard people yelling “stop” as the train left the station before it came to a halt, RNZ reported.<\/p>\n
“It was seconds only,” she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Senior Sergeant John McCarthy said emergency services were notified about 6.20pm on Sunday. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
“We weren’t told what happened, but looking at the trauma of the bystanders… the trauma of staff, something I’ll never forget.”<\/p>\n
Those in the rear carriages were moved forward before buses were reportedly arranged to take passengers to Hamilton and Glenbrook.<\/p>\n
Senior Sergeant John McCarthy said earlier: “This is a tragic incident, and we are providing support to wh\u0101nau and those who acted immediately to try to help.”<\/p>\n
McCarthy urged anyone who witnessed what happened to contact police online, or by calling 105. <\/p>\n
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, as the regulator for rail safety, was notified about the incident last night.<\/p>\n
“Police is investigating, and NZTA is gathering information about the incident to determine if a separate investigation will be undertaken by NZTA as the rail safety regulator,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“Heritage rail service operator Steam Incorporated Ltd has recommended (to their members and other operators) the suspension of heritage services in other parts of the country as a precautionary measure while investigations are undertaken.”<\/p>\n
Police are also encouraging anyone who was present to seek support.<\/p>\n
“This is a tragic incident, and we know that it will be distressing, Victim Support is available if needed,” Detective Sergeant Harry Hodgson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Transport officials are investigating the death of a person reportedly hit by a heritage train in Te Awamutu…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":607292,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1081,51,42,43,40,38,41,39,112],"class_list":["post-607291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-accident","tag-auckland","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-transport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607291\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/607292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}