The railway line from Wairarapa to Wellington was closed at about 6.20pm last Thursday night after a train crashed into a mud slip just north of Upper Hutt. The slip was caused by heavy rain that also closed roads around the Wellington region.

Around 300 passengers were on the train when it came out of a tunnel and hit the slip. The engine and one carriage got knocked off the tracks. Although no one was hurt, the passengers were stranded inside the train for over two hours.

It has taken three days to clear all the mud away and get the train line running again. About 1000 commuters had to find another way of getting to Wellington on Friday.

Contributed by Anita Jones