NZ InfraWatch
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TRANSPORT
South Island Rail — Picton to Christchurch
KiwiRail · Marlborough
Long-term upgrade of the Coastal Pacific corridor (Picton–Christchurch) for both freight and passenger services. Would require major investment in track, tunnels, and bridges. No business case; planning study stage only.
D
36/100 · At risk
Completion Probability — likelihood this proceeds on roughly its stated timeline.
Funding statusweight 30%
Delivery stageweight 25%
Election / policy riskweight 20%
Govt priority alignmentweight 12%
Project scaleweight 8%
Delivery agencyweight 5%
Key facts
- Region
- Marlborough
- Sector
- Transport
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $2.8b
- Indicative completion
- 2035
- Funding status
- No Source
- Lead organisation
- KiwiRail
- Election risk
- High
Election risk assessment
Labour policy; National has not prioritised South Island rail investment.
Government priority alignment
LOW — Passenger-rail expansion — not a GPS priority and not prioritised by the current government.
Chronology
- 2017Coastal Pacific scenic passenger train service restored (first time since 2011 Kaikōura earthquake)
- 2019Feasibility study for South Island passenger rail expansion completed
- 2021Labour government considers Scenic Plus passenger rail — South Island corridor among options
- 2022Kaikōura earthquake damage still affecting capacity. Infrastructure gap estimated at $2.8B
- 2023National wins election — South Island rail deprioritised. No business case commissioned
- 2035Aspirational target under a future pro-rail government