Rail equipment thefts disrupt New Zealand services

Rail equipment thefts in New Zealand have disrupted freight and passenger services, prompting KiwiRail and NZ Police to ask the public to report suspicious activity near rail corridors.

The incidents have involved signals, cables and overhead lines being stolen⁠. In April, stolen rail equipment caused six cancellations on the Hutt Valley Line and delayed more than 50 services.

Rail equipment thefts affect Hutt Valley Line services

In the Wairarapa, as much as five kilometres of cable has been taken over the past six months. Although the scrap value is very low, replacing these cables could cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Wellington Metro General Manager Andy Lyon said the equipment being stolen is essential to safe railway operations, and that the thefts carry costs for both KiwiRail and the wider public.

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“There is the obvious cost of replacing stolen equipment, but theft of this nature typically leads to serious disruption while we reinstall equipment and test systems before getting core rail services back up and running,” he said.

“All this has a big knock-on effect for our commuters and freight customers, and ultimately the connectivity of our region.”

NZ Police warn of railway cable risks

NZ Police also warned that people who steal or interfere with railway infrastructure are exposing themselves to serious danger.

Inspector Shaun Lingard, Hutt Valley Area Prevention Manager for New Zealand Police⁠, said live railway cabling can be extremely hazardous.

“Anyone that interferes with live railway cabling is putting themselves at risk of serious harm through electrocution,” he said.

“Railway cabling is thought to be targeted due to the cooper content and the increasing scrap value of copper. However, the return is low for such a high-risk activity, and it really costs the whole community when cable is stolen.”

“Police encourage the public to report suspicious behaviour if it’s happening at the time to 111, or call and use the 105 service online if it’s after the fact.”

What is known about rail operations?

KiwiRail’s wider safety guidance describes the rail corridor as an area closed to the public unless access is covered by permission. It also notes that trains operate on the network 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so activity near tracks has to be treated as a safety issue as well as an operational one.

KiwiRail separately asks people to call police immediately if they see suspicious behaviour, theft or vandalism involving railway property, while NZ Police directs emergency reports to 111 and non-emergency reports to 105.