KiwiRail gets $40 mln for Coastal Pacific upgrade

KiwiRail gets $40 mln for Coastal Pacific upgrade
Gavin Evans
By Gavin Evans Nov. 23 (BusinessDesk) - KiwiRail has received $40 million of Crown funding to increase patronage on the Coastal Pacific passenger service on the South Island. The funds will be used to operate the Picton to Christchurch service year-round, add an additional 63-seat carriage for peak seasonal traffic, and add a new premium luxury carriage. KiwiRail acting chief executive Todd Moyle said the Coastal Pacific, which resumed operations today after two years of earthquake repairs to the line, had been bringing about 42,000 pa...