KiwiRail will today begin to clear a slip that derailed a freight train carrying milk through the Manawatu Gorge.
The train, which was heading for Taranaki, hit a slip on the eastern side of the gorge about 5am yesterday.
KiwiRail spokeswoman Ruth Larson today told NZPA the milk wagons had been cleared and work trains had be brought in to help shift the dirt.
"The focus today is on starting to clear the slip itself. It's a fairly big job and it's quite difficult access," she said.
"Then we'll be able to focus on rerailing the locomotive."
Ms Larson said the rail line was likely to be closed for several days.
