Woman rescued from track

A woman was dragged from rail tracks after she fainted and fell from a platform moments before a train arrived in Upper Hutt.

The woman was standing on the edge of the Upper Hutt Station platform when she fell onto the tracks just before 8am on Tuesday, a Metlink spokeswoman said.

With the train approaching, a man who was also waiting jumped from the platform and moved the woman before the train arrived.

‘‘At the time, the Wairarapa service was approaching the platform at a low speed,’’ the spokeswoman said.

‘‘A bystander immediately jumped onto the rail corridor and moved the woman off the tracks.’’

The train stopped about 20 metres short of the woman, who was then assisted back onto the platform.

She was tended to by Metlink staff and members of the public until an ambulance arrived, the spokeswoman said.

While applauding the man for his bravery, the spokeswoman also reminded people they were generally encouraged to stay off the tracks. ‘‘It was great that the customers on the platform assisted in moving this customer to safety, although generally we ask customers to escalate any trespass situation to our staff and stay out of the rail corridor.’’

Medical emergencies were a regular occurrence, the spokeswoman said.

Metlink would like to talk to the man involved, and asked him to call its call centre on 0800 801 700.