A locomotive and 12 wagons derailed on Monday night in central North Island after the rail line was washed out by heavy rain at several points.
Siva Sivapakkiam, KiwiRail's executive general manager of operations, told Newshub that at about 11pm on Monday, a north-bound freight train "partially derailed" on the North Island Main Trunk Line, just south of Hunterville.
One of the locomotives and about 12 mostly empty wagons came off the tracks in the incident, while a second locomotive and a number of other wagons stayed on the tracks. No one was injured.
"The derailment also damaged a number of traction poles that hold up the electrified line," said Sivapakkiam. "It appears the rail line has been washed out by heavy rain at a number of points."
KiwiRail staff are now at the site working to reopen the line as soon as possible.
"There is no definite timeline for the repair at the moment."
