Commuter rail proposed between Rangiora and Rolleston, again

Thursday, 3 July 2025

Some want commuter trains in Canterbury, something like this KiwiRail passenger train on the North island.

Commuter trains should run between Rangiora and Rolleston, an Environment Canterbury councillor has again proposed.

Cr Joe Davies told Christchurch city councillors on Wednesday that “heavy rail” trains should run on the existing KiwiRail tracks between the two regional centres, with perhaps 13 stops in Christchurch.

Heavy rail would be “a great thing for the city and subregion”, Davies said. It would be “good for our economy, our connectivity and our environment. But it will cost money”.

The white lines indicate a heavy rail route between Rangiora and Rolleston, with possible extensons to Lincoln and Lyttelton. The orange line indicates the MRT option favoured by the Greater Christchurch Partnership.

He agreed the city council would probably have to cover some of the estimated $200m to $400m capital cost as the council provides public transport infrastructure.

As many heavy rail proponents have found in recent decades, there is no easy or inexpensive way to transport people to and from the central city by rail.

A bus route from a station in Riccarton or Addington to the Bus Interchange is generally proposed until a rail link could be established.

Commuter rail “keeps popping its head up and it's not going to go anywhere, so I'm just going to keep doing my work on it”, said Davies.

City councillor Sara Templeton challenged Davies by noting the Greater Christchurch Partnership found heavy rail “didn’t stack up” compared to a Mass Rapid Transit system (MRT).

It would use light rail or special buses on Papanui, Main North, Riccarton and Main South roads. The vehicles would move passengers in the central city along Tuam, Manchester and Victoria streets.

MRT would not extend to Rangiora or Rolleston, at least initially.

“The MRT process was really thorough,” said Templeton, a mayoral hopeful. It had been “signed up by Waka Kotahi [NZTA] board and is now in the top half of the projects for the national infrastructure strategy”, she said.

“That is just a business case,” replied Davies and MRT came with its own high costs.

Davies said he was keeping options open on heavy rail.

Waimakariri National Party MP Matt Doocey and Press columnist Mike Yardley have both criticised the heavy rail option.

ECan will meet with KiwiRail’s board in September.

The heavy rail option is explored at the website chrt.space