58-696: The Coastal Pacific is a long-distance passenger train that runs between Picton and Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand . It is operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail . It was called the TranzCoastal from May 2000 until temporarily withdrawn in February 2011. It was the first train to use the new AK class carriages . The service was suspended after 14 November 2016 due to damage to
116-474: A bottom-up review of the business indicated that the Bay Express was not a financially sustainable service. By 2001, roughly 45 passengers were riding the Bay Express per trip, and it was proving to be unprofitable. Subsidies from the central government or other bodies were not forthcoming, and despite protests against cessation and proposals on how to improve ridership, the cancellation of the Bay Express
174-612: A buffet car, but in August 1981 these were diverted to the North Island Main Trunk as the Blue Fern and replaced by carriages of lesser quality without a buffet car. The introduction of the Bay Express was intended to return the standard of Hawkes Bay passenger services back to their former level. The trains consisted of two modular guards vans converted into power-luggage vans with 11 kW petrol generators at
232-693: A daily return trip to Picton during the summer months until its scheduled passenger services were suspended in December 2021. They are scheduled to restart in November 2022. Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries link Picton with Wellington, forming the main link between the North and South Islands across Cook Strait . The two main shipping companies operating this route are the Interislander and StraitNZ , with both taking passenger and road vehicles and, for
290-539: A new train along the lines of the successful TranzAlpine between Christchurch and Greymouth launched in 1987. On 25 September 1988, the train was re-launched as the "Coastal Pacific Express." The new train eliminated the previous refreshment stop at Kaikōura and included a servery for refreshments. In April 2006, Toll NZ announced its intention to sell the TranzCoastal and the TranzAlpine . However, with
348-438: A population density of 507 people per km . Before the 2023 census, the town had a smaller boundary, covering 9.17 km (3.54 sq mi). Using that boundary, Picton had a population of 4,503 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 486 people (12.1%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 456 people (11.3%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,950 households, comprising 2,277 males and 2,226 females, giving
406-577: A population of at least 1,000 people. The town is named after Sir Thomas Picton , the Welsh military associate of the Duke of Wellington , who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo . Thomas Picton's connection to the slave trade and controversial governorship of Trinidad has resulted in calls for places named after him to be renamed. The town's Māori name, Waitohi, translates into English as 'waters of
464-594: A reference to the port in her short story " The Voyage " (in the collection The Garden Party), which is "an account of a trip to Picton from Wellington on the Cook Strait ferry". The roll-on/roll-off (RORO) road and rail ferry service between Picton and Wellington started on 11 August 1962, operated by the New Zealand Railways Department with the ship GMV Aramoana . Picton is located in an inlet known as Picton Harbour, on
522-468: A sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 582 people (12.9%) aged under 15 years, 507 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,031 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,383 (30.7%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 87.9% European/ Pākehā , 18.3% Māori , 1.9% Pasifika , 2.5% Asian , and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer
580-445: A slight alteration made to facilitate more comfort on the head and neck. The train included two of three remaining Endeavour cars, each seating 51 in the same seat type and format with large viewing windows like those on the TranzAlpine . The last car of the consist featured a large observation window at the rear. A new form of pressure-ventilation was installed in all three carriages, with associated ceiling-mounted trunking to filter
638-634: Is from a bore at Speeds Road in Koromiko; during high demand, this is supplemented by a stream-fed supply in Essons Valley. The average daily water demand in the town is 3,800 m (130,000 cu ft), with demand in summer peaking at 5,770 m (204,000 cu ft). Prior to the commissioning of the Picton wastewater treatment plant in 1999, all the town's sewage was discharge raw into Queen Charlotte Sound. The town's wastewater system
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#1732775408504696-786: Is located in Picton. It is the marae (meeting ground) of Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui, and includes the Arapaoa wharenui (meeting house). In October 2020, the Government committed $ 242,386 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 18 jobs. The town is also the usual starting point for holidays in the Marlborough Sounds . Highlights include fishing, walking, the Queen Charlotte Track , and diving. A popular dive trip
754-529: Is to the 177-metre long wreck of the cruise liner MS Mikhail Lermontov , which lies at Port Gore, 37 metres underwater. Dive charter boats leave from Picton for the last resting place of the Mikhail Lermontov, one of the world's largest, most accessible and most recent shipwrecks. Guiding is essential as the 1986 wreck is in 30 metres of water and divers can become disoriented inside the hull, which lies on its starboard side. The completion of
812-443: The tohi ritual'. The tohi is a baptismal ritual of warriors before they went into battle. The warriors would line the bank of the sacred stream, and as they filed past, the tohunga (chosen experts) dipped a branch of karamū bush into the stream, striking each warrior on the right shoulder. The tohi rite was last performed on soldiers of the 28th Māori Battalion during World War II. Prior to European settlement,
870-477: The 2023 New Zealand general election , the ferry replacement project and its associated terminal redevelopments were cancelled by the incoming Sixth National Government . The Interislander terminal building originally built in the 1960s was demolished in 2024. Cruise ships regularly visit Picton between October and April. During the 2018–19 season, 44 ships carrying 85,000 passengers visited Picton. Picton Aerodrome at Koromiko 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) to
928-579: The Coastal Pacific . Since 2013 the train has been run as a seasonal service, serving the peak tourist season between about September to April, with no services in the winter months, to offset operating losses. The 7.8 magnitude North Canterbury earthquake on 14 November 2016 caused numerous landslides that destroyed parts of the railway line in the Kaikōura district. KiwiRail suspended the train service, which had been due to operate until May 2017, for
986-709: The Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui iwi occupied Waitohi Pā on the site of the present town. In March 1850, Sir George Grey and Sir Francis Dillon purchased the land from Te Āti Awa, who moved to neighbouring Waikawa Bay. In 1859, the Marlborough Province was created and the newly named Picton became the provincial capital. The provincial capital was moved to Blenheim in 1865. Author Katherine Mansfield spent time in Picton, where her grandparents, Arthur and Mary Beauchamp, and her father Harold, lived for some time when they came from Australia. She included
1044-467: The Ōpaoa River just north of Blenheim (the bridge over the river wasn't completed until 1880). The full line south to Kaikōura and on to Christchurch wasn't completed until 15 December 1945. The line's climb from Picton to Elevation Saddle required a steep 1-in-37 (2.7%) grade and a viaduct across the Waitohi River. The original viaduct was the largest wooden structure in the southern hemisphere at
1102-640: The Coastal Pacific consisted of the last three original Southerner day carriages. They were refurbished to the same design as the three AO class carriages on the TranzAlpine and the sole Connoisseur carriage. Two carriages seated 51 each in seats designed by Addington Workshops , which were reupholstered and re-arranged, alcove-style, around tables. The third carriage became a 31-seat servery and observation carriage fitted out similarly to its TranzAlpine counterpart, but with detail differences in
1160-469: The Coastal Pacific, after a handrail he was holding onto suddenly fell off. Although Jones survived the accident, he was left blind and had a leg amputated. The train runs daily between Christchurch and Picton , stopping at Rangiora , Kaikōura , and Blenheim along the Main North Line. It was introduced on Sunday, 25 September 1988 and takes 5 hours 20 minutes. The initial rolling stock for
1218-510: The Interislander on one ferry, rail wagons. There have been proposals in recent years (the latest in 2011) to relocate the ferry terminals from Picton to Clifford Bay , south of Blenheim, to reduce travel times. However, these plans never got past the design proposal and were eventually dropped. In 2019, consultation began on a redevelopment of the ferry precinct ahead of Interislander introducing new and larger ferries in 2024. Following
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#17327754085041276-761: The Marlborough Sounds. The Edwin Fox Maritime Centre features the remains of the Edwin Fox , the only surviving ship that transported convicts to Australia, and a small museum. State Highway 1 links Picton southwards to Blenheim , Kaikōura , Christchurch and beyond, while the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive (shorter in distance but usually slower than via State Highways 1, 62 and 6) winds westward to Havelock . The Main North Line railway opened on 17 November 1875 between Picton and
1334-710: The North Island or deep South. In the early 1990s, the carriages were equipped with pressure ventilation like the Bay Express carriages and the TranzAlpine rear observation carriage. On 19 January 1987, a private tourism firm leased a 29 (later 45) seat single-lavatory South Island Main Trunk first-class car refurbished in 1970 for the Southerner and attached it to the Picton train initially, before expanding its operation to Greymouth and later Invercargill. It
1392-650: The Picton urban area. Picton is a major hub in New Zealand's transport network, connecting the South Island road and rail network with ferries across Cook Strait to Wellington and the North Island . The Picton urban area has a population of 4,890 (June 2024), making it the second-largest town in the Marlborough Region behind Blenheim. It is the easternmost town in the South Island with
1450-574: The Robertson Range to the south and Mount McCormick to the east. The Elevation Saddle connects southwest of the town with the Tuamarina River valley and contains the main land transport routes between Picton and the rest of the South Island. Picton, including Waikawa, is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area and covers 9.64 km (3.72 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 4,890 as of June 2024, with
1508-541: The air throughout each car. The train attracted good patronage and, from 1993 onward, the odd Northerner car or two, a thoroughly refurbished Auckland excursion car and later a thoroughly refurbished Wairarapa Connection car, the Auckland excursion modular van with a 37.5-kW generator housed in the non-handbrake end module, the first and third modular NIMT 11-kW power-luggage vans were frequently being used to bolster this service. From 12 January until 25 January 1993,
1566-543: The buffet counter area. An FM class guards van was fitted with an 11-kW petrol generator at the handbrake end for power and baggage duties. The new Coastal Pacific became a favourite with travellers, but it did not attract the same level of popularity as the TranzAlpine . In 1993, a "backpackers" car (a former red Picton – Greymouth car with luggage space at one end) was introduced, for a cheaper option. This premise proved popular, as did adding five freight wagons authorised to travel at 100 km/h conveying priority freight for
1624-476: The census's question about religious affiliation, 52.3% had no religion, 35.0% were Christian , 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.4% were Hindu , 0.1% were Muslim , 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 465 (11.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 972 (24.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 420 people (10.7%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
1682-549: The end of 2011. Picton, New Zealand Picton ( Māori : Waitohi ) is a town in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand's South Island . The town is located near the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui , 25 km (16 mi) north of Blenheim and 65 km (40 mi) west of Wellington . Waikawa lies just north-east of Picton and is considered to be a contiguous part of
1740-588: The first Southerner power-luggage van with its viewing module restored as a luggage module and the third of three modular vans assigned to the Endeavour . The two panorama cars were completely refurbished, each with 50 seats to a design introduced on the Overlander , and air conditioned. At one end in each car, eight seats were arranged in bays of four, alcove-style, the rest forward-facing. The two "new" power-luggage vans featured 50-kW generators, also housed in
1798-517: The first of three 56 foot air-conditioned rear-view cars and the first of three 90-kW power-luggage vans exclusive to the Northerner and Overlander passenger trains were put to use on the Napier train for trial purposes. In the meantime, one of the 51-seat cars exclusive to this train was transferred for trial use on the Southerner . On Sunday, 12 November 1995 the Bay Express , consisting of
Coastal Pacific - Misplaced Pages Continue
1856-728: The general public commenced the next day. Unlike the TranzAlpine and TranzCoastal services, the Bay Express primarily relied upon local point to point traffic and as a result, was placed under increasing pressure by the continued real drop in airline ticket prices over the 1990s, and the price of owning and operating private cars. The travel time of the Bay Express was uncompetitive compared with both air and car travel (five hours thirty minutes on average by rail compared to one hour by air and four hours by car). Long-distance coaches had similar travel times and cheaper fares. Following significant changes in management within Tranz Rail,
1914-468: The handbrake ends (one from Mitsubishi , Japan, the other from Daewoo , Korea) and three 1930s-built NZR 56-foot carriages , one a former red Picton/Greymouth car extensively rebuilt into a servery and rearview observation car with 24 seats, arranged alcove-style around tables. The seats were Addington Workshops -built and installed in this car for the Picton/Greymouth runs, reupholstered with
1972-414: The handbrake ends. All were painted in the new Cato blue scheme. The servery and rear-view car was merely inspected for damage and cleared to run with the newer stock, but later incorporated the horizontal full-length 350-mm Tranz Scenic band on the sides in place of the white stripe and yellow band. The dark blue livery remained til 1997. In 1997, while the refurbished buffet car resumed temporary duties on
2030-400: The head of Picton Harbour. Waitohi River starts in Essons Valley and passes through the town, draining into the sound near the ferry terminal. The township extends northeast along rolling land towards Waikawa Bay, separated from Picton Harbour by The Snout and Victoria Domain. On the land side, Picton is surrounded by hills and mountains, including Te Tara-o-Te-Marama/Mount Freeth to the west,
2088-746: The highway link south ended the relative isolation of this scenic area in the 1950s and encouraged modern motels, beginning with the American Luxury Motels, and many more after the ferry service to Wellington began. Other dive sites in the Picton region include Fish Reserve, the Koi wreck, and Long Island Marine Reserve. Introductory dives (discover scuba dive ) and PADI ( Professional Association of Diving Instructors ) certification courses from open water diver to dive master are available from Picton. Technical diving and TDI ( Technical Diving International ) courses can be completed in Picton, diving in
2146-427: The purchase of Toll NZ's rail assets in 2008 by the government, these plans never came to fruition. KiwiRail has upgraded the remaining three long-distance passenger services. Following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Canterbury on 22 February 2011, KiwiRail suspended the train, replacing it with a bus service until 10 April 2011. They announced that it would return on 15 August 2011 under its original name,
2204-519: The rail line from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake , but in 2018-19, ran from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 28 April. In November 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced $ 40 million for KiwiRail from the Provincial Growth Fund , to provide year-round service and to upgrade the Kaikoura, Blenheim and Picton stations. The service was again suspended on 23 March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Coastal Pacific long distance passenger service
2262-438: The rest of the 2016–17 season. It was announced on 1 August 2018 that the service would resume on 1 December. As of 31 August 2022, the Coastal Pacific has suspended same day passenger operations between Picton and Christchurch. These services are planned to return on 29 September. One of New Zealand Rail 's most controversial safety incidents happened in 1994 when 6-year-old Morgan Jones fell under an observation carriage on
2320-583: The run as it had in 1991 and 1993, the servery and rear-view car was refurbished. All seats were reupholstered and the interior decor altered to match the other cars, and the new "Cato blue" paint scheme applied on the exterior. The timetable had an 8 am departure from Wellington, reaching Napier at 1.30 pm. The return service departed Napier at 2.30 pm and arrived in Wellington at 8 pm. The first service, for invited guests and dignitaries, operated on 10 December 1989 and regular services for
2378-464: The second Northerner power-luggage van, a Northerner car, a Bay Express car and its servery and rear-view car was involved in a derailment when it entered a 50 km/h marked curve at 90 km/h. The locomotive, DX 5310 , rolled over and suffered extensive damage, not returning to service until 2001; and a member of the public riding in the cab suffered injuries that proved fatal the following day. The power-luggage van and Northerner car – which
Coastal Pacific - Misplaced Pages Continue
2436-535: The south of the town has regular services to Wellington with Sounds Air and charter flights around the Marlborough Sounds. The Picton Borough Council established the town's first electricity supply in September 1917. Electricity was generated by a Pelton wheel on the Waitohi River, which was later supplemented by suction gas engines, and was reticulated to customers using a 230/460-volt three-wire DC system. The Marlborough Electric Power Board (MEPB) took control of
2494-575: The time of its completion and lasted until 1963, when it was replaced by the current concrete and steel structure. The original Picton railway station was located on London Quay; the platform still exists, bisected by the Memorial Archway steps. The current station on Auckland Street was completed in 1914. It is a standard class B station , of weatherboard and tile, and has been listed NZHPT Category II since 1991. The Coastal Pacific long-distance passenger/tourist train from Christchurch made
2552-607: The town supply in 1947. Between 1947 and 1950, the town was re-reticulated with the national standard of 230/400 volts three-phase AC, and a 33,000-volt line was built from Picton to Springlands in Blenheim to connect the town with the rest of the MEPB's distribution network. Today, Marlborough Lines (the successor to the MEPB) owns and operates the distribution network in Picton and the wider Marlborough region. Picton's main water supply
2610-429: The town's intermediate school provision (Years 7 and 8) from Picton and Waikawa Bay schools. Today, Picton has three schools: Seven Blenheim FM radio stations ( The Hits , Life FM , Magic , More FM , The Breeze , Rhema , and Brian FM) are rebroadcast in Picton via a relay transmitter atop Mount Freeth west of the town. The town can also receive AM radio broadcasts from Wellington. A private television translator
2668-418: The true right (south) side of the upper Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui . Picton Harbour is flanked to the west by Wedge Point, which separates it from Grove Arm, and to the east by The Snout, which separates it from Waikawa Bay . Within the harbour, Kaipupu Point splits the inlet into two, Picton Harbour proper to the east and Shakespeare Bay to the west. The main town is located on flat to rolling land at
2726-492: The two centre tables, one on both sides of the aisle of the carriage, and became the new backpackers' carriage. The former Connoisseur carriage, thoroughly refurbished the year before with air conditioning installed, assumed regular duty. The Lynx Express baggage van and later the first of the NIMT baggage vans were also allocated to this service. Later, the second backpacker carriage had air conditioning installed, and in late 2003, it
2784-407: The two former Lynx Express carriages and the carriage with luggage space, were permanently assigned to this train. The backpackers' carriage was later replaced by the only former Southerner (later Northerner ) carriage to escape rebuilding as a panorama carriage or scrapping. It was fitted with 47 of the same type of Addington seat that it had had in the mid to late 1980s, all seats facing toward
2842-491: Was a passenger train between Wellington and Napier in New Zealand's North Island , operating from Monday, 11 December 1989 until Sunday, 7 October 2001. It was operated by New Zealand Railways Corporation 's InterCity Rail division, later known as Tranz Scenic . The Bay Express was preceded by the Endeavour , which ran the same route from 1972 until 1989. The Endeavour started service with upgraded carriages and
2900-544: Was built in 1964 on Mount Freeth west of the town, relaying WNTV1 (now part of TVNZ 1 ) from Wellington. The translator was taken over by BCNZ in 1975 and upgraded to relay colour transmissions (introduced in 1973) and a second channel, Television Two (now TVNZ 2 ). The translator was decommissioned after analogue switch-off in April 2013. Since then, television in Picton is broadcast exclusively via satellite ( Freeview or Sky ). Bay Express (train) The Bay Express
2958-560: Was established in 1876 to govern the town. The borough council was abolished as part of the 1989 local government reforms , and Picton became part of the Marlborough District. For electoral purposes, Picton is part of the Marlborough Sounds ward, which elects three of the council's thirteen councillors. At the national level, Picton is part of the Kaikōura general electorate and Te Tai Tonga Māori electorate. Waikawa Marae
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#17327754085043016-511: Was marketed as a luxury carriage: it offered the same level of comfort as other Southerner carriages, but the service was to a higher standard. Originally named the Connoisseurs' Express carriage, it was heavily refurbished to offer superior quality service and renamed The Connoisseur carriage. During 1996, the original TranzAlpine observation carriage was thoroughly overhauled and air-conditioning installed, and this carriage, along with
3074-435: Was replaced by St Joseph's in 1924. St Joseph's closed in 2017 due to a declining school roll. There was no secondary education provision (Years 9 to 13) in Picton prior to 1965, with secondary school students from Picton commuted to Marlborough College in Blenheim (split into Marlborough Boys' College and Marlborough Girls' College in 1963). Queen Charlotte College opened to serve the town in 1965, while also taking over
3132-575: Was suspended once more in December 2021. There were plans to replace it with a multi-day rail tour. On 12 April 2022 it was announced trains would resume again from 29 September 2022, as same-day services, on Thursdays to Sundays and daily between 2 February and 30 April 2023. It then next runs on 21 September 2023. In 1988 the Railways Corporation announced it was replacing the Picton Express train from Christchurch to Picton with
3190-572: Was that 1,650 (42.1%) people were employed full-time, 687 (17.5%) were part-time, and 93 (2.4%) were unemployed. Picton's economy is largely influenced by its status as a major transport hub, in addition to servicing tourists and residents in the Queen Charlotte Sound. At the 2018 census, the three largest industries ( ANZSIC divisions) of employment for Picton residents were accommodation and food services, transport postal and warehousing, and retail trade. The Picton Borough Council
3248-499: Was transferred north for use on the Overlander or Wairarapa Connection . The baggage van fitted out for the initial third NIMT passenger trainset in 1992 had its central and one end module converted into an open viewing area, while the other end module remained for luggage. KiwiRail's built new carriages for the service at Hillside Engineering , classed AK . The new carriages for the Coastal Pacific entered service toward
3306-443: Was unoccupied – derailed but remained upright. The Bay Express car and servery car remained on the rails. This resulted in the recently refurbished buffet car, a Northerner car and the first NIMT 90-kW power-luggage van forming a replacement train until Christmas 1995. Apart from the servery and rear-view car, the train was fully re-equipped, with two former Picton – Greymouth later TranzAlpine and TranzCoastal panorama cars,
3364-458: Was upgraded in 2017, with a replacement main along Waikawa Road between Waikawa and central Picton and a bypass treatment plant to treat excess sewage that can't be processed at the main treatment plant. The first school in Picton opened in 1861 at the corner of Devon Street and Broadway. A new school opened in 1882, and part of the old school was moved to the new site, but was destroyed by fire in 1928. A Catholic Convent school opened in 1915, and
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