Snapped pole blocks railway line

UPDATED: 3.10pm

A stainless steel pole that sheered in two, smashed through a fence and blocked the railway line in The Strand, has been removed.

The waka sail, which measures about 18 metres in length, was one of two stainless steel sculptures erected on the grass area across from Hamilton St in central Tauranga.

The broken sculpture was removed off the train tracks by a Todd and Pollock crane.

A witness said the sail was stuck more than a metre into the ground and the crane staff had to use more than three tonnes of force to remove it.

The metal pole broke off from its foundation just before 1pm today.

"It's sheered off at the base. It's fallen to the ground. It's been welded to the ground but where it was welded, it's sheered off in a clean snap," the witness said.

He said the metal pole was about 18 metres long and about 30-40cm wide.

The railway tracks were completely blocked.

A Kiwirail spokesperson said the accident did not cause any damage to the train track.

"We were informed about it but there were no delays caused by this to any trains," she said.

"There were no trains scheduled for that time and now it has been removed and everything is back to normal."

The witness said the remaining pole was swaying "dangerously" in the wind.