Looted, quake-stuck train moved

11:58 am on 19 December 2016

A freight train looted by thieves after it was stranded by last month's earthquake has now been moved.

A train is trapped by landslides on the Kaikoura coast line.

A train is trapped by landslides on the Kaikoura coast line. Photo: AFP

The fully-laden train was abandoned north of Kaikōura just after the 14 November earthquake trapped it between two slips.

It was put under guard after looters broke in.

Three men were arrested last month.

KiwiRail's network services manager Todd Moyle said people who had goods on the train could expect to be reunited with them by the end of the week.

Mr Moyle said goods in the containers included supplies for supermarkets and cars.

He was not yet aware of what the looters took, but the company would soon do a stocktake.

Police said three men, aged 29, 28 and 18, would appear in Kaikoura District Court on January 20 to face theft charges.