Long-distance passenger rail is set to return to the South Island, with a train connecting Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
The Mainlander was expected to run monthly from January 20 to coincide with the school holidays, with hopes for more frequent services in the future.
The first train would take four days to complete, with overnight stops in Dunedin and Invercargill before returning to the Garden City.
Tickets for the new service was already available. A one-way trip from Christchurch to Dunedin would cost $229 per person, while the full return journey was $449.
The service initially operated from 1970 until 2002.
The new initiative would be delivered by the privately-owned Rail and Tourism Group.
CEO Paul Jackson told 1News the organisation the new service would work for locals and tourists alike by creating a “multi-directional loop around the South Island”.
International flights returned to Dunedin in June, a new four-star hotel has opened right next to the railway station in Invercargill, and Christchurch had the new One NZ Te Kaha stadium.
“All of those things gave us the confidence to say, ‘you know what, let’s connect the dots, let’s join these main centres with passenger rail’,” Jackson said.
‘A significant step’
The mayors of Dunedin, Christchurch and Invercargill, were all pleased with the announcement and the economic benefits it could bring.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker said some benefits were already plain to see.
“The announcement of The Mainlander is a huge win for Dunedin. The public has been calling for more rail connections between the South Island’s main centres, and this is a significant step toward that,” she said.
“Dunedin is already seeing economic benefits, with the carriages restored and prepared for service at KiwiRail’s Hillside Workshop, supporting skilled engineering jobs in our city.”
As well as providing a new option for domestic travellers, The Mainlander was expected to attract tourists.
Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger told 1News the plan was “fantastic”.
“If it’s putting more people into the city… and we get money out of their pockets, it’s good for everybody.”
Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell echoed the others’ sentiment.
“Most of us remember the experience of travelling by train, the rhythm of the wheels, the changing landscape, and seeing familiar places from a different angle. It’s great to see that experience returning to the South.”
Rail and Tourism Group would release more monthly dates soon, with future services expected to follow a regular pattern of departing on Fridays and returning on Sundays.
