Across the Southern Alps on the new blue train

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 17

Across the Southern Alps on the new blue train

ROY SINCLAIR

takes a train that could be

a vision of things to come in South Island passenger rail services:

Almost two years ago, a young New York journalist, Rene Mack, made a rail journey between Greymouth and Christchurch. He was so impressed that he wrote a series of newspaper and magazine articles about “New Zealand’s miniature trans-continen-tal railroad.” Some of his articles were sent to New Zealand, and they supported the claims of many Christchurch people that the rail journey through the Southern Alps had a real potential to attract tourists.

Recently, a new stylish rail service was introduced between Christchurch and Greymouth. Officially known as the TranzAlpine Express, (spelled Tranz because of the N.Z. in the title), it has been been specially Resigned to cater for tourists as well as regular travellers.

The train consists of three refurbished carriages providing a standard of service which has not been previously experienced on the trans-alpine route. A special feature is an observation carriage with extra large tinted windows to provide an uninterrupted view of some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery.

Richard Middleton, manager of the Railway’s Passenger Business Group, says the refurbished train is providing a quality of service to match the quality of the route.

“We have spend a lot of time researching the new train with the aim of providing a service travellers will want to use rather than one which we in the Railways only think they will want to use.

“Travel agents and other interested people were consulted and special attention has been paid to the decor and on-board services.”

In the blue-carpeted carriages, the seats, complete with Canterbury lambs wool covers, are set in bays of four with tables in between.

For a reasonable extra charge, passengers are served morning or afternoon Devonshire teas at their seats. Pre-packed lunches can be purchased from a buffet in the observation carriage. Considerable imagination has been used by those who planned the catering. Devonshire teas are served in appropriate glassware, and there is even a choice of the type of tea. Included in the Intercity buffet menu are such interesting choices as a West Coast Lamburger, The Great Railway Pie (made at 1 the Christchurch Railway Station and rightly claimed as being the best railway pies in the world), and a Goldminer’s Lunch.

There is also a selection of New Zealand cheeses and homemade soup. What other delights would any traveller wish to sample as the train winds its way through tunnels and crosses the high, spindly viaducts above the splendid Waimakariri Gorge? John Bennett, the Railways regional passenger manager for the South Island, was largely responsible for putting the new Tranz-Alpine Express together. He says that people have spent years talking about the tourist potential of the railway to the West Coast

“The magnificent scenery along the line is already well known overseas, and we now have a train we will be proud to have our visitors travelling on,” he says. The train was refurbished in the Addington Workshops, and Mr Bennett has been impressed

by the enthusiasm and workmanship of the local railway staff. A feature of the journey to Greymouth is the 8.6 kilometre Otira tunnel which brought to an end the last New Zealand Cobb and Co. coach journey when it was opened in August, 1923. It was once the longest tunnel in the British Empire, but it is. now only the third longest in New Zealand.

Throughout the Tranz-Alpine Express journey there is an informative commentary and as the train ventures further into the West Coast travellers may well be subjected to a certain amount of folklore.

Passengers on one journey were told a story about an American who went fishing in 1 Lake Brunner. “He had apparently caught half a dozen good trout, and as he was packing up he saw an incredibly huge eel swimming towards him.

“He managed to pick up a willow stake which was on the bank and thrust it into the back of the eel. He then watched the stake swimming out on the lake

TOMORROW: Stan Darling talks with Roy Sinclair who is celebrating 125 years of New Zealand railways with a new book.

until it was out of sight. "Some years later he returned to Lake Brunner and got quite a shock when he saw a willow tree swimming towards him.” The Tranz-Alpine Express makes a return journey to Greymouth every day, leaving Christchurch at 7.30 a.m. and returning just before 7 p.m. It Is therefore suitable for a day excursion, and special day return fares are offered. The train will also be popular at week-ends with Christchurch people who can now spend more than five hours walking in Arthur’s Pass National Park between trains. Providing the Railways put some effort into selling the Tranz-Alpine services, it should become very successful. It provides comfortable travel, but at the same time retains a certain quaintness which is attractive. The new service represents a commitment by the Railways to revitalise the long-distance rail travel. Next year, South Island travellers can look forward to similar journeys to Dunedin and Picton.

Interesting menu choices