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Wine is seen spilling from a damaged train wagon - Source: ONE News -
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The main trunk line is back up and running after a freight train derailment blocked the track for most of the day.
The train derailed near Palmerston North on Thursday night, tipping over four wagons carrying wine tankers.
One tanker ruptured, spilling its contents on to the tracks. Thousands of litres were spilled into a drain and hundreds of passengers were affected after the derailment at Tokomaru.
Eleven freight trains had to be cancelled and approximately 500 passengers on the Overlander and Capital Connection were forced on to buses.
The 13,000 litres of spilled wine will be pumped out of the drain. No waterways have been affected.
It is not yet known what caused the accident, but one local said he thought maybe the wheels had buckled, sending one wagon into a ditch.
KiwiRail spokesman Brent Laury says they were very lucky.
"We got off quite lightly, it could have been worse."
