Taggers hit train

An Auckland train has been defaced in a daring day-time graffiti attack.

About 10 taggers wearing masks spray-painted the Auckland Transport operated passenger train at a station in Mt Albert about 4.45pm on Sunday.

An emergency stop button was pushed on the outside of the train, immobilising it, which allowed the taggers to spray-paint the entire side of the train facing the station.

The driver locked the locomotive’s doors in order to keep passengers safe while police were called but the offenders had vanished by the time police arrived.

Commuter and Mt Eden resident Max Hampton was on the train at the time.

It took about eight minutes for them to totally cover two carriages in paint, Hampton said.

‘‘The taggers weren’t rushing at all, they seemed determined to finish.’’

The trains doors were eventually reopened 10 minutes after the taggers had left.

Auckland Councillor John Watson, who was also a passenger, said the experience was a distressing one.

‘‘There were people on that train who were struggling to breathe from the fumes, people were really visibly upset,’’ Watson said.

Passengers were starting to become quite angry over the notion of ‘‘essentially being held hostage,’’ he said.

‘‘Had the doors been open there would have been a few people keen to deal it out to the taggers.’’

The train was immediately removed from service and was washed.