TranzAlpine rail service back on track

12:17 am on 7 March 2011

The TranzAlpine rail service will resume running between Christchurch and Greymouth on Monday.

KiwiRail suspended the service after the earthquake so that supplies into Christchurch could be kept moving via freight trains.

KiwiRail says staff are ready to come back to work and tourists are resuming their bookings on the TranzAlpine.

The train will depart at 8.15am on Monday from the Christchurch passenger railway station in Troup Drive, which was undamaged during the earthquake.

A decision whether to resume the TranzCoastal service between Christchurch and Picton is yet to be made.

A replacement coach service starts on Monday and will operate for at least a week.