A popular New Zealand tradition, open-air cars on trains designed to let visitors and locals see and photograph some of the island nation’s spectacular scenery is coming to an end for safety reasons.
KiwiRail’s Great Journeys routes, like the one above, have operated with unglassed windows, but now railroad officials have become concerned over the number of near-disasters resulting from tourists leaning out of the cars or poking selfie sticks out.
Despite constant warnings to stay inside at all times, officials say it’s just not working. Katie McMahon, the railroad’s “Director of Zero Harm” told CNN that there is “an increasing number of passengers putting themselves and others in danger by leaning out of the carriage to take photographs. She added “We have seen passengers leaning out with selfie sticks, iPads and their bodies, often unaware of an approaching tunnel which could cause a tragic incident for themselves, and others in the carriage.”
But if you really want those no-glass shots, you still have a shot. It will take a while for the glass to be added. But keep your head and hands in!
