Story and image from KiwiRail
Auckland, New Zealand, July 14, 2026 – KiwiRail teams have worked hard under challenging circumstances to successfully reopen the rail line between Picton and Christchurch following its closure last week due to damage caused by the bad weather.
The heavy rain had caused subsidence which in turn resulted in scouring by the Conway River beneath part of the Main North Line rail corridor between Cheviot and Kaikōura, forcing its closure.