New Zealand’s Government has agreed to help fund a 12-month trial of commuter trains running into Christchurch, it announced on Sunday 1 November 2026.
If everything goes ahead, new morning and evening train services would run from Rangiora in the north and Rolleston in the south, carrying passengers into the city centre.
The Rolleston to Christchurch trip is expected to take less than 20 minutes by train, compared with around 50 minutes by road during busy traffic times.
Rail Minister Winston Peters said Christchurch’s railways have a long history. “New Zealand’s railways began in Christchurch in 1863, and it is time we put them back to use again for passenger rail, not just freight and tourism,” he said.
The trial will be supported by a $3.4 million loan from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, with local councils expected to cover half the costs themselves. Mayors from Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri will also need to formally back the plan before it can go ahead.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said using the existing rail lines made good sense. “This is the type of commonsense investment people want to see – using what we already have, reinstating what we once had, and giving people choices in their lives once again,” he said.
Exact ticket prices haven’t been set yet, but the Government says it expects fares to be similar to what commuters already pay for trains in Auckland and Wellington.
If all goes to plan, the trial commuter trains could be running by the middle of 2027.
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