PHOTO: The Mainlander Train / FacebookA commuter rail service between Selwyn townships and Christchurch is being investigated by a community board, with planning under way for a one-off trial later this year. Community board member Samantha Samuel said the proposal is still in its early stages. “The trial is the result of community feedback calling for a commuter service in the face of increasing traffic from a growing population. “The infrastructure is already there, so it’s looking at what we can do to start the conversation towards a commuter train in the future.”The plan for the trial is a phased approach, proposed to start with a one-off event express train service and then a “move towards a commuter train”. The trial process aims to understand the costs and answer the crucial 'who pays' element of any future service.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 03, 2026 23:58 UTC