Large windows in all carriages Open-air viewing carriage
Baggage facilities
Overhead glass shelves Baggage carriage
Other facilities
Toilets
Technical
Rolling stock
Two DX locomotives (Additional Four Locomotives added between Arthur's Pass station and Otira station) Four to six AK carriages One to two AKCs café carriages One to two open-air observation AKV vans One AKL luggage van
Track gauge
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map
Legend
km
h:mm
Main North Line to Picton
00.5
0:00
Christchurch
00.0
0:01
start of Main North Line
Main South Line to Lyttelton
0:01
Addington Junction
Main South Line
31.9
0:19
Rolleston
Main South Line to Timaru
00.0
0:20
start of Midland Line
0:38
Darfield
Whitecliffs Branch
Oxford Branch to Main North Line
Sheffield
1:00
Springfield
Tunnel 1
Paterson's Creek bridge
Tunnels 2 - 4
Tunnels 5 - 7
Staircase viaduct
Tunnels 8 - 10
Broken River viaduct
Tunnels 12 - 16
Bridge 28 "Slovens Creek"
1:57
Cass
Waimakariri River bridge
Bealey River bridge
2:27
Arthur's Pass
Otira Tunnel
8.566 km
5.323 mi
Rolleston River bridge
2:48
Otira
3:07
Jackson
Taramakau River bridge
Inchbonnie
Crooked River bridge
3:32
Moana
Arnold River bridge
Tunnel 18
3:48
Kokiri
Stillwater–Ngākawau Line
Stillwater
Rapahoe Branch
(formerly Rewanui Branch)
212.0
4:30
Greymouth
Hokitika Branch
(formerly to Ross)
km
h:mm
This diagram:
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KiwiRail passenger trains in the South Island, ━ TranzAlpine
The TranzAlpine is a passenger train operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail in the South Island of New Zealand over the Midland Line; often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes (see famous trains). The journey is 223 kilometres (139 mi) one-way, taking almost five hours. There are 16 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase Viaduct elevated as much as 75 metres (246 ft).
The train has become increasingly popular, and carried 204,000 passengers in the financial year ending 2007.[1] By 2016, passenger numbers were approximately 130,000 a year, but rising again after the setback of the Christchurch earthquake, and were exceeding pre-earthquake levels.[2]
The TranzAlpine service was suspended in 2020 and again in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed on 14 January 2022.[3]
^"TranzAlpine success fails to boost profits". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 23 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^KiwiRail. "KiwiRail welcomes Governor General on TranzAlpine journey". www.kiwirail.co.nz. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
^"Tranzalpine scenic train trips back on track". Stuff/Fairfax. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
Governor General on TranzAlpine journey". www.kiwirail.co.nz. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016. "Tranzalpine scenic train...
tourism division of KiwiRail that operate its three Scenic train services (TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific). The new division was launched...
In April 2006, Toll NZ announced its intention to sell the TranzCoastal and the TranzAlpine. However, with the purchase of Toll NZ's rail assets in 2008...
a small number of tourist orientated passenger services, such as the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer. Dunedin Railways also operate...
services: Interislander, Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine. Before 1962, the North Island and South Island rail networks were not...
passenger transport subsidiary of KiwiRail, operating the Northern Explorer, TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific. The passenger trains are predominantly patronised...
cancellation in 2002. The most famous train to depart Christchurch is the TranzAlpine, which travels along the Main South Line to Rolleston and then turns...
being replaced by a DFB/T, DXB or occasionally a DXC unit and on the TranzAlpine until being replaced by two DXC locomotives. A DC class locomotive is...
have been extracted, the door is reopened. Because of the fumes, the TranzAlpine's observation cars are closed for the trip through the tunnel. Wright...
KiwiRail reported that the TranzAlpine service was terminating at Greymouth and the TranzCoastal terminating at Picton. The TranzAlpine was cancelled until 4...
vans, similar to those previously used on the Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine. The AK class are the first new carriages to be built in New Zealand...
AKS for KiwiRail including the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine. A further twelve of the carriages have been refurbished into the SR...
services on the South Island Main Trunk are the Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine, which uses the short portion of the Main South Line between Christchurch...
the West Coast Expresses was superseded by the TranzAlpine. The Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine are the only passenger trains to depart from Christchurch...
as it was known, closed in November 1987 with the commencement of the TranzAlpine service between Christchurch and Greymouth. Having paid $73,000 in 1998...
Selwyn District Territorial authority district Photo taken from the TranzAlpine train Location of the Selwyn District within the South Island Coordinates:...
general freight operations, and also employed periodically to haul the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific passenger trains. In the North Island, the DXB sub-class...
Long distance passenger services are limited to three routes – the TranzAlpine (Christchurch – Greymouth), the Coastal Pacific (Christchurch – Picton)...
line into the region. It links to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass. The TranzAlpine train service runs return between Christchurch and Greymouth daily and...
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