![]() The Coastal Pacific on the Kaikōura Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service type | Inter-city rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Current | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Upper South Island, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Great Journeys New Zealand (2017–present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former operator(s) | InterCity Rail (1988–1995) Tranz Scenic (1995–2012) KiwiRail Scenic Journeys (2012–2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Christchurch Picton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 348 km (216 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 5 hours | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | Tuesday, Wednesday, October - April | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On-board services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class(es) | Scenic Class, Scenic Plus Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disabled access | Wheelchair hoist in café car | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seating arrangements | Airline-style Alcove with table | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catering facilities | On-board café | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Observation facilities | Large windows in all carriages Open-air viewing carriage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baggage facilities | Overhead shelves Baggage carriage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other facilities | Toilets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | DXR locomotives AK class carriages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 66 km/h (41 mph) average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Coastal Pacific is a long-distance passenger train that runs between Picton and Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It is operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail. [1] It was called the TranzCoastal from May 2000 until temporarily withdrawn in February 2011. [2] It was the first train to use the new AK class carriages.
The service was suspended after 14 November 2016 due to damage to the rail line from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, but in 2018-19, ran from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 28 April. [3] In November 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced $40 million for KiwiRail from the Provincial Growth Fund, to provide year-round service and to upgrade the Kaikoura, Blenheim and Picton stations. [4]
The service was again suspended on 23 March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. [5]
The Coastal Pacific long distance passenger service was suspended once more in December 2021. There were plans to replace it with a multi-day rail tour. [6] [7] On 12 April 2022 [8] it was announced trains would resume again from 29 September 2022, as same-day services, [9] on Thursdays to Sundays and daily between 2 February and 30 April 2023. It then next runs on 21 September 2023. [10]
In 1988 the Railways Corporation announced it was replacing the Picton Express train from Christchurch to Picton with a new train along the lines of the successful TranzAlpine between Christchurch and Greymouth launched in 1987. [11]
On 25 September 1988, the train was re-launched as the "Coastal Pacific Express." [12] The new train eliminated the previous refreshment stop at Kaikōura and included a servery for refreshments. [13]
In April 2006, Toll NZ announced its intention to sell the TranzCoastal and the TranzAlpine . [14] However, with the purchase of Toll NZ's rail assets in 2008 by the government, these plans never came to fruition. KiwiRail has upgraded the remaining three long-distance passenger services.
Following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Canterbury on 22 February 2011, KiwiRail suspended the train, replacing it with a bus service until 10 April 2011. [15] They announced that it would return on 15 August 2011 [16] under its original name, the Coastal Pacific. [17] Since 2013 the train has been run as a seasonal service, serving the peak tourist season between about September to April, with no services in the winter months, to offset operating losses. [18]
The 7.8 magnitude North Canterbury earthquake on 14 November 2016 caused numerous landslides that destroyed parts of the railway line in the Kaikōura district. KiwiRail suspended the train service, which had been due to operate until May 2017, for the rest of the 2016–17 season. [19] It was announced on 1 August 2018 that the service would resume on 1 December. [20] [21]
As of 31 August 2022, the Coastal Pacific has suspended same day passenger operations between Picton and Christchurch. [22] These services are planned to return on 29 September.
One of New Zealand Rail's most controversial safety incidents happened in 1994 when 6-year-old Morgan Jones fell under an observation carriage on the Coastal Pacific, after a handrail he was holding onto suddenly fell off. Although Jones survived the accident, he was left blind and had a leg amputated. [23] [24]
The train runs daily between Christchurch and Picton, stopping at Rangiora, Kaikōura, and Blenheim [25] along the Main North Line. It was introduced on Sunday, 25 September 1988 and takes 5 hours 20 minutes.
The initial rolling stock for the Coastal Pacific consisted of the last three original Southerner day carriages. They were refurbished to the same design as the three AO class carriages on the TranzAlpine and the sole Connoisseur carriage. [13] Two carriages seated 51 each in seats designed by Addington Workshops, which were reupholstered and re-arranged, alcove-style, around tables. The third carriage became a 31-seat servery and observation carriage fitted out similarly to its TranzAlpine counterpart, but with detail differences in the buffet counter area. An FM class guards van was fitted with an 11-kW petrol generator at the handbrake end for power and baggage duties. [13]
The new Coastal Pacific became a favourite with travellers, but it did not attract the same level of popularity as the TranzAlpine. In 1993, a "backpackers" car (a former red Picton – Greymouth car with luggage space at one end) was introduced, for a cheaper option. This premise proved popular, as did adding five freight wagons authorised to travel at 100 km/h conveying priority freight for the North Island or deep South.[ citation needed ]
In the early 1990s, the carriages were equipped with pressure ventilation like the Bay Express carriages and the TranzAlpine rear observation carriage.[ citation needed ]
On 19 January 1987, a private tourism firm leased a 29 (later 45) seat single-lavatory South Island Main Trunk first-class car refurbished in 1970 for the Southerner and attached it to the Picton train initially, before expanding its operation to Greymouth and later Invercargill. It was marketed as a luxury carriage: it offered the same level of comfort as other Southerner carriages, but the service was to a higher standard. Originally named the Connoisseurs' Express carriage, it was heavily refurbished to offer superior quality service and renamed The Connoisseur carriage.[ citation needed ]
During 1996, the original TranzAlpine observation carriage was thoroughly overhauled and air-conditioning installed, and this carriage, along with the two former Lynx Express carriages and the carriage with luggage space, were permanently assigned to this train. The backpackers' carriage was later replaced by the only former Southerner (later Northerner) carriage to escape rebuilding as a panorama carriage or scrapping. It was fitted with 47 of the same type of Addington seat that it had had in the mid to late 1980s, all seats facing toward the two centre tables, one on both sides of the aisle of the carriage, and became the new backpackers' carriage. The former Connoisseur carriage, thoroughly refurbished the year before with air conditioning installed, assumed regular duty. The Lynx Express baggage van and later the first of the NIMT baggage vans were also allocated to this service. Later, the second backpacker carriage had air conditioning installed, and in late 2003, it was transferred north for use on the Overlander or Wairarapa Connection .
The baggage van fitted out for the initial third NIMT passenger trainset in 1992 had its central and one end module converted into an open viewing area, while the other end module remained for luggage.
KiwiRail's built new carriages for the service at Hillside Engineering, classed AK. The new carriages for the Coastal Pacific entered service toward the end of 2011. [17]
Rail transport in New Zealand is an integral part of New Zealand's transport network, with a nationwide network of 4,375.5 km (2,718.8 mi) of track linking most major cities in the North and South Islands, connected by inter-island rail and road ferries. Rail transport in New Zealand has a particular focus on bulk freight exports and imports, with 19 million net tonnes moved by rail annually, accounting for more than half of rail revenue.
The Main North Line between Picton and Christchurch and the Main South Line between Lyttelton and Invercargill, running down the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, are sometimes together referred to collectively as the South Island Main Trunk Railway (SIMT). Construction of a line running the length of the east coast began in the 1860s and was completed all the way from Picton to Invercargill in 1945; the last sections being on the Main North Line south of Picton. The designation "South Island Main Trunk" originally referred to only that line between Christchurch and Invercargill.
The Southerner was a passenger express train in New Zealand's South Island between Christchurch and Invercargill along the South Island Main Trunk, that ran from 1970 to 2002. It was one of the premier passenger trains in New Zealand and its existence made Invercargill the southernmost passenger station in the world.
Interislander is a road and rail ferry service across New Zealand's Cook Strait, between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. It is owned and operated by state-owned rail operator KiwiRail. Three roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessels operate the 50-nautical-mile route, taking about three hours to complete the crossing.
The TranzAlpine is a passenger train operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail in the South Island of New Zealand over the Midland Line; often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes. The journey is 223 kilometres (139 mi) one-way, taking almost five hours. There are 16 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase Viaduct elevated as much as 75 metres (246 ft).
The Overlander was a long-distance rail passenger train between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). It was operated by Tranz Scenic. The service was replaced from 25 June 2012, by the Northern Explorer.
The Capital Connection is a long-distance commuter train operated by KiwiRail between Palmerston North and the capital city of Wellington on the North Island Main Trunk.
The Bay Express was a passenger train between Wellington and Napier in New Zealand's North Island, operating from Monday, 11 December 1989 until Sunday, 7 October 2001. It was operated by New Zealand Railways Corporation's InterCity Rail division, later known as Tranz Scenic.
The Main North Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk railway, is a railway line that runs north from Christchurch in New Zealand up the east coast of the South Island through Kaikōura and Blenheim to Picton. It is a major link in New Zealand's national rail network and offers a connection with roll-on roll-off ferries from Picton to Wellington. It was also the longest railway construction project in New Zealand's history, with the first stages built in the 1870s and not completed until 1945.
The Lynx Express was a long-distance passenger train in the South Island of New Zealand that ran the length of the Main North Line between Picton and Christchurch. The service was operated by New Zealand Rail Limited business unit InterCity Rail.
The Wairarapa Connection is a New Zealand interurban commuter rail service along the Wairarapa Line between Masterton, the largest town in the Wairarapa, and Wellington. It is operated by Wellington suburban operator Transdev under contract from the Greater Wellington Regional Council. It is a diesel-hauled carriage service, introduced by the New Zealand Railways Department in 1964 after passenger demand between Masterton to Wellington exceeded the capacity of the diesel railcars then used.
The Connoisseur cars were special railway carriages that were used in a number of passenger trains in New Zealand.
The Picton Express was a passenger express train operated by the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) between Christchurch and Picton. It ran from December 1945 until February 1956, and was thus the shortest-lived provincial express in New Zealand. Following the end of railcar services in 1976, a new carriage train between Christchurch and Picton began, under the same name as the earlier service, until it was replaced in 1988 by the Coastal Pacific Express.
Rail transport in Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, consists of two main trunk railway lines intersecting in the suburb of Addington, carrying mainly long-haul freight traffic but also two long distance tourist-oriented passenger trains. The two lines are the Main North Line and Main South Line, collectively but unofficially known as the South Island Main Trunk Railway. There is a heritage line at the Ferrymead Historic Park that is operated with steam, electric, and diesel motive power hauling tourist-oriented services.
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise (SOE) responsible for rail operations in New Zealand and operates inter-island ferries. Trading as KiwiRail and headquartered at 604 Great South Road, Ellerslie, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. KiwiRail has business units of KiwiRail Freight, Great Journeys New Zealand and Interislander. The company was formed in 2008 when the government renationalised above-rail operations and inter-island ferry operations, then owned by Toll Holdings. In 2021, the government launched the New Zealand Rail Plan, with funding for rail projects to come from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF), and with KiwiRail remaining an SOE but paying Track Access Charges (TACs) to use the network.
The NZR 56-foot carriage is a class of 56 ft (17 m) long railway passenger carriage formerly used on almost all long-distance passenger rail transport in New Zealand. 88 carriages have been preserved.
The New Zealand FM guards van is a rail vehicle in New Zealand originally used on freight trains but now used primarily on passenger trains, reclassified AG.
The New Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriages were built by British Rail Engineering Limited for British Rail in the early 1970s. From the mid-1990s, 150 were exported to New Zealand. After being rebuilt, refurbished and re-gauged, they entered service with a variety of operators on New Zealand's railway network. The carriages generally replaced older NZR 56-foot carriages, some of which had been in use for almost 70 years.
The New Zealand AK class carriage is a class of 17 cars built by Dunedin's Hillside Workshops for KiwiRail's long-distance passenger operation The Great Journeys of New Zealand. Consisting of 11 AK saloon carriages and four AKC café carriages, supplemented by three AKL luggage vans and four AKV open-air viewing/generator vans converted from AG vans, similar to those previously used on the Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine. The AK class are the first new carriages to be built in New Zealand since 1943.
Great Journeys New Zealand is the tourism division of KiwiRail that operate its three Scenic train services. The new division was launched in May 2017 and replaced the former tourism brand KiwiRail Scenic Journeys. It has continuity with the earlier InterCity Rail (1987–1995) and Tranz Scenic (1995–2011).