KiwiRail staff and contractors have been working steadily to clear slips and remove debris from around bridge piers at multiple sites on the Main South Line (between Christchurch and Dunedin).

Flooding incidents have closed the Main South Line (which runs between Christchurch and Dunedin) and the line between Dunedin and Balclutha.

Flooding incidents have affected kilometres of rail line south of Timaru on the Main South Line (which runs between Christchurch and Dunedin) as well as south of Dunedin.  Flood water has covered the tracks between Studholme and Glenavy, at Whitecraig, Hampden, and at several sites between Dunedin and Balclutha.  Further flooding has occurred south of Dunedin at Allanton.

The Chairman of KiwiRail, Mr John Spencer, and the Board have announced they will not be renewing KiwiRail Chief Executive (CE), Mr Jim Quinn’s, five year contract when it expires in February 2014.

Heavier and longer freight trains are now travelling around the lower North Island due to a growing international demand for export logs.

Interislander has joined forces with Destination Marlborough and Nelson Tasman Tourism to launch a campaign for people looking to ditch the winter blues for blue sky days in Marlborough and Nelson. The ‘Make a Memory in Marlborough and Nelson’ winter campaign begins today and will run through June and July.

KiwiRail’s innovations to prevent falls have won the the Kensington Swan Best Initiative to Address a Safety Hazard category in last night’s New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

The winner of KiwiRail Scenic Journeys’ very popular Facebook photo competition has been named with Christchurch local, Andy Lukey, taking out the top prize of $1,000 cash and $1,000 travel with KiwiRail Scenic Journeys. Mr Lukey’s portfolio, captured on the Coastal Pacific train journey from Christchurch to Picton, was the strongest of the 12 photographers who competed in the final of the competition.

Interislander will be giving its flagship passenger ferry – the Kaitaki – a bit of a spruce up this winter. Following the recent decision to renew the lease for another four years until 2017, a refurbishment of the passenger areas on the ship will be completed when the ship goes into dry dock in August this year.

KiwiRail has today released the report on its investigation into the accident in which a young woman was critically injured when a train hit her wheel chair after it became stuck at the Morningside pedestrian level crossing.