Tranz Alpine Rail Link across New Zealand’s South Island to get $26m Facelift

Tourists riding the popular Tranz Alpine rail link across New Zealand’s South Island will soon be able to enjoy a more luxurious journey, thanks to a $26 million facelift, the first step in a major upgrade of New Zealand’s train services.

All trains on the scenic line from Greymouth on the west coast to Christchurch on the east coast, will be replaced. The upgrade is part of an $80.2m, five-year programme to address safety and maintenance issues nationwide.

Two other key services in the Tranz Rail network, the Trans Coastal line from Christchurch to Picton (at the top of the South Island) and the North Island's Overlander route from Wellington to Auckland, will also benefit from the overhaul. Both are popular tourist routes.

A further $800,000 has been earmarked for an upgrade of Picton's ferry terminal which is the marine passenger gateway to the South Island.

The New Zealand government recently bought rail back into public ownership renaming the service KiwiRail.

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