Auckland rail deaths II

Auckland Trains reports the fatality at Newmarket this afternoon that disrupted the Western line. The perennial points failures meanwhile caused the rest of the system - the Eastern and Southern lines - to be delayed. Another meltdown - another death on the lines.

Only last week I pondered the lack of concern from the authorities about level crossings and the dangers (bolding the relevant part to today's tragedy):

There cannot be any level crossings on a system where all the lines are going to be double-tracked, electrified and running commuter trains every five minutes or more plus freight. When I see they encourage level crossings for pedestrians and lure them across the lines at stations like Mt Eden, Boston Rd and Newmarket West (where there are distractions and the line is not on a straight) the people who authorised those crossings must be held to account. Do they want their cynical legal arguments in favour of both their neglect and their creation of lethal safety hazards tested in court?

The deceased is reported to have been alighting - rather than crossing - at Newmarket West (the temporary platforms being used during construction of the big Newmarket station project). So the issues are different - this seems to be purely an operational issue rather than a design fault with the station or platform (at least at this stage).An elderly man has been dragged to his death after his foot became trapped as he attempted to get off a train in the Auckland suburb of Newmarket.

The man, was believed to be in his 70s, slipped as he was getting off the train at the Newmarket station.

His foot became stuck and he was dragged for several metres by the train until it stopped just under the Newmarket Broadway overbridge, police said.

The incident sounds ghastly. How did this happen?

I've noticed the staff are actually quite vigilant in making sure everyone is clear of the doors - on the platform. But if someone was late getting off and was just inside the doors then (because of the way the carriages are) they may not have been seen. Then again there is plenty of time to get on and off the trains.

What is the rail death toll for the Auckland system? The one's above are only pedestrians - not passengers. Our record - if Transit's (NZTA) Andy Knackstead ever bothered to talk about rail instead of the road - once we find out what it is - may compare unfavourably with overseas systems or the Wellington lines. That's my pick.