Quake-hit rail line between Picton and Christchurch to reopen for freight next Friday

Contractors have spent the last 10 months clearing earthquake debris along the road and rail corridor north and south of Kaikoura. Photo: Kurt Bayer.

The first freight services to run again on the earthquake-damaged rail line between Picton and Christchurch will begin next Friday, KiwiRail announced today.

Ten months after the giant magnitude-7.8 tremor devastated the critical South Island road and rail corridor, the rail link is set to return on September 15.

The first train from Picton to Christchurch will run during the day and after that it will run as a low-frequency night service.

"Getting freight rolling again on the quake-damaged line is a great result that has been made possible by world-class engineers and a team of New Zealanders from all over the country," said KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy.

He said there is still a lot of work to be done before the line is returned to its pre-quake state, but opening it to freight allows rebuilding of the road and further work on the line to continue.

Reidy says the return of freight services will be marked with celebrations in Christchurch and Kaikoura as the first train travels down the line.

Before the November 14, 2016 quake, one million tonnes of freight moved along the route every year.

"The limited re-opening will also take pressure off the inland route, which has been the main route to shift freight south since the earthquake," said Reidy.

"Even with the restrictions that will be in place, we still expect up to 2000 trucks a month will be taken off that road."

Meanwhile, hundreds of contractors continue working with heavy machinery to reopen State Highway One, which suffered major landslides in the quake.

The Government and NCTIR have repeatedly vowed to have it reopened by this Christmas.