NZ's best kept secret | The Coastal Pacific train | Picton to Christchurch

Discover one of world's great railway journeys – the Coastal Pacific from Picton, at the top of New Zealand's South Island, to Christchurch. This little known train is an incredible, half-day adventure along the spectacular east coast of New Zealand's South Island.

In this video, we’ll check out the Scenic Class carriages, try the on board food and drink, and take in the incredible views, from pink lakes and beautiful beaches to snow-capped mountains and rolling plains. We’ll also learn a bit about the destructive forces that closed this line for almost two years. Come along on what just might be, one of the best railway journeys in the world.

Stops include Blenheim, Kaikōura and Rangiora. The Coastal Pacific uses the Main North Line, sometimes called the South Island Main Trunk railway.

Coastal Pacific bookings, fares and timetable:
https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/tours...

🚉 Train: The Coastal Pacific
🚉 Operator: Great Journeys of New Zealand (parent company: KiwiRail)
🚉 Locomotive: New Zealand DX class (DXB 5137)
🚉 Seat: Car C, Seat 5A (window)
🚉 Route: Picton - Christchurch (Main North Line)
🚉 Distance: 347.5 km
🚉 Travel time: 5 hours 50 minutes (scheduled)
🚉 Class: Scenic Class
🚉 Travel date: 4 November 2022

EQUIPMENT:
🚉 Cameras: GoPro Hero 10, GoPro Hero 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Panasonic HC-VX1

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:09 - Picton Railway Station and check in
02:11 - Train arrival and boarding
03:28 - Scenic Class seating, departure and crew announcements
06:21 - Route overview and lunch option
08:05 - Para Wetlands and Marlborough wine region
09:47 - Blenheim
11:13 - Redwood Pass and Awatere River
13:41 - Lake Grassmere Saltworks
15:50 - Reaching the Pacific Ocean
17:32 - Cafe car and afternoon tea
19:01 - Seal spotting at Ohau Point
20:16 - Mangamaunu Bay and the Kaikōura Ranges
22:14 - Kaikōura
25:24 - Tunnels and coastline
26:24 - 2016 Kaikōura earthquake
28:06 - Beautiful coastal views
31:00 - Okarahia Viaduct and final coastal views
32:57 - The Conway River and wine time
35:38 - The Canterbury Plains
39:15 - Rangiora
40:17 - Train fare and overall thoughts
42:08 - Arrival into Christchurch
44:11 - Canterbury Railway Station and final thoughts
45:06 - TranzAlpine preview

Coastal Pacific video by Doc7Austin:
   • New Zealand by Rail - part 2: Coastal Paci...  

Route guide by the Man in Seat 61:
https://www.seat61.com/NewZealand.htm...

Music
I use Artlist for high quality, licensed audio. If you sign up using my referral link below, you will get two extra months for free.
https://artlist.io/Adam-3542584

Credits and sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_No...

Pronunciations:
Te Aka Māori-English Dictionary:
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/

KiwiRail map
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/inde...

Kaikoura Ranges
https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/kaikour...

Video and photo credits:
The Great Journeys of New Zealand

Reopening New Zealand’s Main North Line by KiwiRail
   • Reopening New Zealand’s Main North Line  

Railing against time - facts and figures about rebuilding the Main North Line:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/...

Awatare River rail bridge
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Blenheim Railway Station
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Schwede66 via Wikimedia Commons

Christchurch Railway Station 1960
Source: Christchurch City Libraries
https://christchurchcitylibraries.com...

Old Christchurch Railway Station demolition 58
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Maps of the New Zealand faults:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Papatea Fault at Waipapa Bay, courtesy GNS Science
Papatea Fault at Waipapa Bay, 1 week after earthquake, courtesy GNS Science

Canterbury Plains map
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

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