Here you can find out more about the South Island rail lines, what they carry and how the North Island network links to the South Island.
Auckland to Christchurch lineThe Auckland-Christchurch rail line is a valuable option for companies moving freight that doesn’t need to get there in a hurry. Containerised general freight moves predominantly north to south, traversing the North Island Main Trunk, Cook Strait via rail ferry, and the Main North Line (Picton to Christchurch).
Traffic on the Auckland-Christchurch line includes:
- containerised goods between Auckland and Christchurch
- forestry products from Central North Island to Wellington.
Midland and West Coast linesThe Midland Line links Greymouth with Christchurch and the Port of Lyttelton. It is used mainly for transporting coal from the West Coast to Lyttelton. It also carries theTranzAlpine Express, a daily passenger service between Christchurch and Greymouth.
The Stillwater-Westport Line and Ngakawau branch lines extend north from east of Greymouth to service the coal mines in the Buller region. The Hokitika branch line extends south from Greymouth to Hokitikia to serve the Eastlands dairy plant.
The lines traverse rugged terrain and are subject to extreme weather.
Since ONTRACK took over responsibility for the network, the Midland Line has been the subject of considerable investment. We have replaced bridges, extended passing loops, renewed tracks and sleepers and improved ventilation in the Otira tunnel.
These improvements have enabled significant growth of coal shipment by rail.
Traffic on the West Coast and Midland lines includes:
- coal trains from the West Coast mines to Lyttelton
- dairy products from Hokitika to Lyttelton
- passengers on the TranzAlpine.
Lines south of ChristchurchThe main rail line south of Christchurch is the Main South Line. It links coastal towns and cities, including Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin (with an extension to Port Chalmers), Gore, Invercargill and Bluff. A lower standard branch line connects mines at Ohai to Invercargill.
South of Dunedin, the remains of the former Central Otago Line extends to Middlemarch. It is used by heritage operator Taieri Gorge Railway for passenger excursions.
Traffic on the lines south of Christchurch includes:
- general freight from Auckland and Christchurch
- empty containers from the Christchurch container park returning south
- grain from Ashburton to the North Island
- meat from Southland to Port Chalmers
- fibre board from Mataura to Port Chalmers and the North Island
- coal from Ohai to Clandeboye dairy factory and South Island
- industrial customers
- dairy products from Edendale to Port Chalmers.