'' Coastal Pacific '' is a long-distance passenger train that runs between Picton and Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand . It is operated by The Great Journeys of New Zealand division of KiwiRail . It was called the '' TranzCoastal '' from May 2000 until temporarily withdrawn in February 2011 . It was the first train to use the new AK class carriages . The service was suspended after 14 November 2016 due to damage to the rail line from the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake , but , in 2018/19 will run from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 28 April . In November 2018 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that KiwiRail is to get $ 40 million from the Provincial Growth Fund , to provide a year-round service and to upgrade the Kaikoura , Blenheim and Picton stations
2016 Kaikoura earthquake
2016 Kaikoura earthquake
Coastal Pacific