Most rail services to and from Christchurch have now resumed following this afternoon’s aftershocks.

New half arm barriers are now in action at the Totara Street level crossing in Mt Maunganui. “It is hoped the new barriers will improve safety at the site,” says Kiwirail Infrastructure and Engineering General Manager Rick Van Barneveld.

New half arm barriers are now in action at the Amyes Road level crossing in Hornby. “It is hoped the new barriers along with the existing road signals, flashing lights and bell alarms will improve safety at the site,” says Kiwirail Infrastructure and Engineering General Manager Rick Van Barneveld.

KiwiRail and the Chris Cairns Foundation are reminding Wairarapa residents to take care around railway lines this Christmas.

As of today, Matangi services will more than double on the Kapiti and Hutt Valley lines - increasing from the current 14 daily return trips to more than 30 return trips every weekday.

Further trials carried out this morning have confirmed the reliability and stability of the Aratere's engines and propulsion systems, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said.

Interislander ferry Aratere is now able to carry freight without any conditions being imposed and further testing is to be carried out today ahead of the ship being approved to carry passengers from early next week.

The latest on-time performance figures for Tranz Metro show that 95 percent of all services arrived within 5 minutes of scheduled arrival times in October - the best performance this year.

The Aratere has been cleared for freight sailings (both commercial vehicle and rail freight). We are working with Maritime NZ to address some further issues and get clearance for passenger sailings.

The Aratere has been cleared for freight sailings (both commercial vehicle and rail freight). It sailed at 0225 this morning and the next scheduled sailing is 1825 from Wellington. We are working with Maritime NZ to address some further issues and get clearance for passenger sailings.

Tests to ensure the safe operation of Cook Strait ferry Aratere are continuing, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said this morning.

Tests carried out while Aratere was berthed at Aotea Wharf last night were successful but there is more to do. Work is continuing on the ship's engines today to carry out further testing.

KiwiRail's new scenic carriages have entered service on the Coastal Pacific service between Christchurch and Picton.

On Tuesday November 1 the Interislander ferry, Aratere, was taken out of service. This will continue until we are satisfied that all repairs have been completed.

Tests to ensure the safe operation of Cook Strait ferry Aratere are continuing and services will be cancelled till that is completed, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said this evening.

Four return sailings of the Cook Strait ferry Aratere have been cancelled while the cause of an issue last night is investigated, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said today.

KiwiRail is well on its way to a sustainable future, Chairman John Spencer said today at KiwiRail's Annual Public Meeting.

Fares for the Capital Connection will increase from 1 November 2011.

KiwiRail's Tranz Metro has posted a new record for the number of people carried on the network in one weekend having transported 46,972 passengers to and from Wellington for the Rugby World Cup quarter final weekend.

Interislander's Cook Strait ferry Aratere is back in scheduled service.

New flashing light and bell alarms are working at the level crossing at Flint Road in Stratford, Kiwirail Network general manager Rick van Barneveld said today.

KiwiRail's Tranz Scenic has today confirmed there will be a fare increase for the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington effective 1 November 2011.

Interislander's Cook Strait ferry Aratere returned home to Wellington today, after a five month extension and refurbishment in Singapore.

Interislander's Cook Strait ferry Aratere is expected to leave Singapore this week, on its way home to Wellington.

Despite the effects on the business of the Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River disaster and the major slips at Kaikoura and in the Manawatu, KiwiRail still made substantial progress on its road to becoming a self-sustainable business, Chairman John Spencer said today. The operating surplus, before depreciation and grant income, was just over $100 million, an increase of 28.9% on the previous year. Operating revenue also increased despite the difficult operating conditions to $667 million, an increase of 2.6%.

KiwiRail is launching a nationwide search for new train drivers to meet the growing demand for rail services around the country.

KiwiRail's key Auckland rail freight terminal at Southdown has shown a 20 percent increase in container through-put in the past financial year, demonstrating a welcome endorsement by customers for the strategic direction being taken by the company.

A new nationwide awareness campaign is being launched tomorrow for National Rail Safety Week - and it is the trains in the big cities that will be carrying the message "Stay Clear. Stay Safe."

As a result of staff illness and training commitments for a number of our Locomotive Engineers, Tranz Metro wishes to advise that there will be a temporary peak timetable this afternoon in order to get passengers to their destination with as little disruption as possible.

Due to the Rail and Maritime Transport Union Wellington branch holding their Annual General Meeting, train services on Tuesday 9 August will be reduced to hourly between 11am-3pm on all lines. Updated timetable information is available on the TranzMetro website (www.tranzmetro.co.nz).

Livestock wandering in the railway corridor is dangerous for the animals, trains, and our customers, KiwiRail says.

When KiwiRail's Tranz Scenic passenger service between Christchurch and Picton resumes on 15 August, it will run under a new name - Coastal Pacific, the name the train was given in the early stages of its inception.

14th July, 2011

KiwiRail today confirmed that after five weeks of consultation, between 40 and 44 employees at Hillside Workshops will be made redundant.

Interislander's contribution to communities and its efforts towards environmental sustainability has been rewarded, with the Cook Strait ferry operator winning a Silver Enviro endorsement from Qualmark this week.

Interislander Cook Strait ferry Kaitaki will now be able to sail its morning passenger services on Saturday and Sunday.

Interislander Cook Strait ferry services are being disrupted this week because of issues caused by staff illness and weather.

Work continues to clear the railway line south of Kaikoura, following the derailment late last night of a northbound freight train.

KiwiRail staff will early this morninginspect and begin therecovery ofafreight trainwhich partiallyderailed late last night after it struck a slipbetween Claverley and Oaro.

KiwiRail intends to resume services through Christchurch to the Port of Lyttelton tonight.

KiwiRail freight services today resumed in Christchurch after the latest earthquakes in Christchurch, and passenger services are to resume tomorrow.

KiwiRail has today suspended all train services between Ashburton, Springfield and Waipara in the South Island because of the latest earthquakes in Christchurch.

KiwiRail's Mechanical Business is undergoing a change process to better support the requirements of the new rollingstock arriving over the next ten years.

KiwiRail welcomes the announcement by Minister for Transport, Hon Steven Joyce, that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will be conducting an investigation into the feasibility of a new sea and rail terminal at Clifford Bay.

KiwiRail freight services resume along part of the Castlecliff branch line this week.

Interislander is investigating an incident in Tory Channel today in which the Monte Stello appears to have touched the seabed.

A further milestone has been reached in the procurement of new electric trains for the Auckland network with KiwiRail today announcing the short list of two bidders to advance to the final stage of contract negotiations.

A combination of extraordinary external events has prompted KiwiRail to revise its financial targets downwards for the current financial year.

New electronic bells are to be installed at the level crossing in Carterton on Monday next week (April 4, 2011).

The Cook Strait ferry Aratere will leave New Zealand on April 13, after alternative capacity was secured to reduce disruption to rail, freight and passenger transport across the strait.

KiwiRail freight services on the main trunk line to Christchurch are back operating at full speed.

From Monday 7 March, the iconic TranzAlpine train will begin running between Christchurch and Greymouth.

KiwiRail freight services to the Port of Lyttelton resumed from 5pm yesterday evening. Containerised freight began moving last night, and coal trains are expected to start during the weekend. The services are running under a temporary 25km/h speed restriction.

Interislander staff and ships are doing their bit to make sure urgently-needed supplies make their way to Christchurch. Passenger numbers are also up as people leave Christchurch for the north.

Rising freight revenue in the first six months of the 2010-11 financial year has enabled KiwiRail to make an encouraging start in its quest to create a business capable of paying its way, said Chairman John Spencer.

The Cook Strait ferry Aratere will not be leaving for a re-fit in Singapore in mid-March as planned, and KiwiRail's Board agreed today (Thursday February 24, 2011) to delay the re-fit departure until after Easter.

Christchurch Earthquake: Rail Network Update

The rail network in Canterbury has been largely cleared for the resumption of freight rail operations.

Christchurch Earthquake: Rail Network Update

The rail network in Canterbury has been largely cleared for the resumption of rail operations.

All trains in the Christchurch region are still stopped until further notice. Trains are moving south of Ashburton and able to move north of Rangiora to Picton.

KiwiRail has stopped all trains at 12.58 (time of earthquake) between Timaru and Picton, and on the West Coast. There are no injuries to staff or passengers.

Canterbury Earthquake

All trains stopped at 12.58 (time of earthquake) between Ashburton and Picton, and on the West Coast.

All trains stopped at 12.58 (time of earthquake) between Ashburton and Picton, and on the West Coast.

All passenger and freight trains services in the Canterbury region have been halted because of the earthquake, felt today Tuesday February 22.

It is not known when services will resume. Track inspections have begun.

KiwiRail is working to contact all Canterbury-based staff to ensure their welfare.

KiwiRail staff are working to re-open the Johnsonville Line after it was closed by a derailment at Ngaio Station early this afternoon.

KiwiRail are warning members of the public to take care as there are extra trains running between Paraparaumu and Waikanae, in preparation for the start of passenger services.

The Overlander train journey is back from time out during the Christmas rail upgrade with a sellout first day, KiwiRail has announced.

KiwiRail's engineering work in Wellington over the summer holiday period has largely been completed, with passenger train services returning to Paraparaumu on Monday (10 January 2011).

KiwiRail's engineering work in Wellington over the summer has passed its halfway mark, with passenger train services returning to Wellington on Monday (3 January 2011) after major upgrade work at the entrance to the Wellington Station platforms was completed.

Media Advisory
23 December 2010

KiwiRail media contacts over holiday period