Picton to Christchurch railway line reopens for freightALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff.co.nz Members of the KiwiRail rebuild team complete a symbolic weld to represent the joining of the line between Picton and Kaikoura. The Picton to Christchurch rail freight line is reopening, reportedly taking 2000 trucks a month off the alternative State Highway 1. KIWIRAIL Containers being loaded onto the first freight train to run down the Main North Line from Picton to Christchurch on Friday. KIWIRAIL An aerial view of the work on the Main North Line at Mangamaunu, north of Kaikoura, in July. THE RAILWAY REBUILDThe earthquake caused major damage to about 60 sites along the Main North Line, which carried about 1 million tonnes of freight annually before the quakes.

Source: Stuff September 14, 2017 17:10 UTC