After decades of abandoned business cases and much yearning, long-distance passenger rail is returning to the South Island in January 2026 – but it comes with a hefty price tag.
Rail and Tourism Group, the New Zealand-owned company behind Mainland Rail, announced on Friday it will resurrect inter-regional South Island rail, named The Mainlander, for services between Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
Chief executive Paul Jackson said the first series of The Mainlander journeys will be between January 20 and 23 to coincide with the school holidays, with the full return trip taking as many days.
