Coastal Pacific

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the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail.[1] It was called the TranzCoastal from May 2000 until temporarily withdrawn in February 2011.[2] It was the first train to use the new AK class carriages.

This article is about New Zealand passenger rail. For coastal Pacific, see Pacific coast.

Coastal Pacific
The Coastal Pacific on the Kaikōura Coast
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusCurrent
LocaleUpper South Island, New Zealand
First service1988
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
TerminiChristchurch
Picton
Stops3
Distance travelled348 km (216 mi)
Average journey time5 hours
Service frequencyTuesday, Wednesday, October - April
On-board services
Class(es)Scenic Class, Scenic Plus Class
Disabled accessWheelchair hoist in café car
Seating arrangementsAirline-style
Alcove with table
Catering facilitiesOn-board café
Observation facilitiesLarge windows in all carriages
Open-air viewing carriage
Baggage facilitiesOverhead shelves
Baggage carriage
Other facilitiesToilets
Technical
Rolling stockDXR locomotives
AK class carriages
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed66 km/h (41 mph) average
KiwiRail passenger trains in the South Island, Coastal Pacific in 2021

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]

History

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.

Incidents

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]

Route and stations

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.

Rolling stock
The Coastal Pacific crossing the double-decker rail and road bridge near Seddon in April 2007

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.

In the early 1990s, the carriages were equipped with pressure ventilation like the Bay Express carriages and the TranzAlpine rear observation carriage.

Connoisseur service

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.

Rebranding and re-equipping
A Picton-bound Coastal Pacific departing Christchurch
Heading north through Christchurch

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.

New rolling stock
Coastal Pacific at Christchurch with new AK carriages in December 2011

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]

See also

References
  1. "The Coastal Pacific: Between mountains and sea". The Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. Wheeler, Bob (11 October 2000). Chairman's Address to Shareholders, 2000 Annual Meeting. Wellington: Tranz Rail Holdings. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  3. "The Coastal Pacific train is coming back!". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. "$40 million for Coastal Pacific as first post-quake service marked in Kaikoura". Stuff (Fairfax). 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. "KiwiRail makes changes to services in response to COVID-19". KiwiRail. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  6. "Urgent calls for long-distance passenger services to stay as KiwiRail cuts operations". Newshub. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. "Project Restart '22". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. "Kiwirail". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  9. "Even Greater Journeys for 2022!". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  10. "Coastal Pacific Train". Great Journeys NZ. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  11. "Tranz-Alpine Express Popular". New Zealand Railway Observer. New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society. 45 (2 (194)): 75. Winter 1988. ISSN 0028-8624.
  12. Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 64.
  13. "Coastal Pacific Express". New Zealand Railway Observer. New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society. 45 (4 (196)): 167. Summer 1988–1989. ISSN 0028-8624.
  14. "Tranz Alpine journey up for grabs". Television New Zealand. 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  15. BUTTERFIELD, TANIA (5 April 2011). "East coast rail service is stopped". The Marlborough Express. Blenheim: Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  16. GORMAN, PAUL (5 April 2011). "TranzCoastal off rails till August". The Press. Christchurch: Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  17. "TranzCoastal service resumes with new Coastal Pacific identity", Daily Express (104): 1, 2011
  18. HERSELMAN, SVEN (5 May 2014). "All aboard for last run of the season". The Marlborough Express. Blenheim: Fairfax NZ News. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  19. "Disruption news". KiwiRail Scenic Journeys. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  20. "Coastal Pacific train service to return from December" (Press release). KiwiRail. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  21. "Main North Line rebuild (project timetable)". KiwiRail. 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  22. "Urgent calls for long-distance passenger services to stay as KiwiRail cuts operations". Newshub. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  23. "The miracle of the boy who fell from the train. What really happened to Morgan Jones". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Abstract of an article in the New Zealand Listener 145 (2839) September 1994 pp 16–22, by Denis Welch
  24. Jim Anderton (28 July 2003). "Safety improvements for Rail employees and travelling public in pipeline". New Zealand Progressive Party. Archived from the original on 16 August 2003.
  25. "Coastal Pacific Stations". Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.

Bibliography
  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
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