The TranzCoastal was suspended as a result of the major Christchurch earthquake in February 2011 and did not resume until August that year , returning to the original Coastal Pacific name . The line was closed by major slips as a result of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake with a freight train being left stranded north of Kaikoura . The line between Picton and Spring Creek yard remained open to allow rail wagon freight from the Interislander ferries to be transshipped to road and vice versa . The section of line from Spring Creek south to Lake Grassmere reopened on 16 January 2017 . Works to restore the line were completed on 8 August 2017 , and limited freight services were restored on 15 September 2017 . 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 by the Coastal Pacific and to upgrade the Kaikoura , Blenheim and Picton stations
2016 Kaikoura earthquake
2016 Kaikoura earthquake
Main North Line, New Zealand