A slip near Paekākāriki this morning took out a railway line and has snarled up traffic on the Kāpiti Coast north of Wellington for much of the day.
Slip on SH1 just south of Paekākāriki Hill Road. Photo: Waka Kotahi / NZTA Wellington
The slip was alongside a long stretch of coastal road and rail, which is the arterial route between Wellington City and Kāpiti Coast.
Trains between Porirua and Paekākāriki were suspended about 6.30am after stormwater and debris slid down Paekākāriki hill, derailing a train on the Kāpiti line. The train had to be lifted back onto the track with a crane.
A spokesperson for KiwiRail said it was unlikely the section would reopen to rail tonight.
The landslip and sustained flooding also blocked the southbound lane of State Highway 1 until later in the morning, and it remained partially closed this afternoon with stop/go management in place around the slip.
Traffic was consistently delayed all day in the area, with bad weather posing a challenge to cleanup for road and rail alike.
The 90 passengers on the train were relocated to The Fishermans Plate restaurant at 7am to shelter while medical teams arrived. None sustained substantial injuries from the derailing.
Mauriceo Torrealda, owner of the restaurant, opened up shop after fire services called and said it was clear they were a bit shaken from the incident.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the derailment of the train this morning.
Wild weather hit other parts of the Wellington today, with a second landslip blocking the Johnsonville railway this afternoon.
Services were suspended between the northern suburb and Wellington city, but re-opened within a few hours.
The Hutt River flooded into a carpark in Lower Hutt City, requiring tow truck assistance.
Metservice warned those in the Wellington region about heavy rain and strong wind still to come. Heavy falls are likely from 11pm with a further 70mm-80mm likely tomorrow morning.
Last night Wellington recorded wind gusts of 130km/h hour las gales buffeted the region.