Government to fund 12-month Christchurch commuter rail trial
The New Zealand Government will fund a 12-month commuter rail trial in Christchurch, run by Mainland Rail, according to a government release published on 31 October 2026.
The total project funding is $3.4 million. RNZ reported that half of that will come from the government's Regional Development Fund. The government's release said the Regional Infrastructure Fund will invest to support Mainland Rail returning passenger rail services to Christchurch for the trial. The remaining $1.7 million is to come from local councils, which still need to sign off on the project.
Running the trial will cost $6.8 million, according to RNZ. Passenger fares are expected to cover half of that operating budget.
The trial will run morning and evening services between Rangiora, Rolleston and central Christchurch. RNZ reported that the trip from Rolleston to Christchurch is expected to take less than 20 minutes, compared with 50 minutes by road.
The trial is scheduled to start in mid-2027. Rail & Tourism Group Holdings, which operates Mainland Rail, bought former Auckland Transport commuter carriages and moved them to the South Island, RNZ said.
The wider plan goes further than Christchurch. RNZ reported that the project includes regular services between Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore and Invercargill. The Mainlander train service between Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill is to be established as a regular service.
