7 Apr 2012

Coastal Pacific services to be reduced over winter

7:44 pm on 7 April 2012

Kiwirail is cutting back its daily winter Coastal Pacific train service because of a lack of patronage following the Canterbury earthquakes.

From 11 May to 11 September, the service between Christchurch and Picton will only run on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Kiwirail says the Coastal Pacific service historically runs at a loss during the winter months, and since the earthquakes numbers have been on average a third below what they usually are.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union general secretary Wayne Butson says the service reduction is disappointing, but Kiwirail has told him there will be no job losses.

He says the service is just another victim of the Canterbury earthquakes.