Coastal Pacific
The Coastal Pacific is a train of long-distance passenger traffic on the railway line South Iceland Main Trunk Railway on the South Island of New Zealand where he runs between Picton and Christchurch.
History
Prior to the full completion of the railway Picton -Christchurch wrong on the previously opened hops freight trains with passenger transport, and the Culverden Express from Christchurch over Waipara after Culverden. Since 15 December 1945, the track is one continuous section and the Picton Express was launched, which established a daily service between Picton and Christchurch. As of 1946, the train reversed temporarily only three times a week from 1956 wrong here several times a day DMUs of type Fiat. These railcars had to be scrapped in the seventies. Since then reversed again a wagon train.
Since 25 September 1988 there has been a specially designed tourist train between Picton and Christchurch. This initially was called Coastal Pacific and was renamed in 1997 TranzAlpine analogy in TranzCoastal. After the earthquake in Christchurch on 22 February 2011 the connection was set in order to concentrate resources on the freight traffic now increasingly necessary. On August 15, 2011, she was taken back under its original name Coastal Pacific in operation. The train is operated by the division Kiwi Rail Scenic Journeys of KiwiRail, a state railway.
After its recent weak utilization Kiwi Rail was in 2013 announced that the train until further notice only during the summer period runs (ie October to April)
Stops
The train operated on his journey the following hold:
- Christchurch
- Rangiora
- Waipara
- Mina ( at Cheviot )
- Kaikoura
- Seddon
- Blenheim
- Picton
The train runs daily, leaving Christchurch morning, afternoon and runs from Picton to Christchurch back again. For the trip, the train takes about 5 1/ 2 hours. In Picton there are connections to and from the Interislander Ferry.
Car
Since November 3, 2011, the Coastal Pacific is with new rolling stock on the go. Since 1941 is the first cars that were completely designed and built in New Zealand. In operation, two panoramic car, a car with a cafeteria, a mixed generator and pan cars and a baggage car went. The production of the vehicle is continued. It is also planned in the TranzAlpine from 2012 are used.