Forget vandals and ghost trains - hot weather caused barrier arms to malfunction at level crossings near Mosgiel on Monday, a rail company spokeswoman said.
KiwiRail group spokeswoman Ruth Larsen, of Wellington, said heat on tracks near crossings at the intersection of Gordon Rd and Gladstone Rd North and Riccarton Rd and Gladstone Rd South caused sensors to activate barriers, lights and alarm bells.
On Monday, the malfunctioning barriers were held up by shipping pallets placed there by a Mosgiel resident.
The man, who did not want to be named, said crossing alarms and barrier arms had malfunctioned three times in the last 10 days.
Police from Mosgiel and Dunedin directed traffic under the arms for about 20 minutes until Ontrack staff arrived and reset the barriers.
Ms Larsen said the fault was not a common one.
If insulated joints became over-heated, they activated a mechanism at level-crossings which made it appear a train was coming.
Ontrack staff fixed the fault yesterday afternoon.
