Lynx Express

The Lynx Express was a long-distance passenger train in the South Island of New Zealand that ran the length of the Main North Line between Picton and Christchurch. The service was operated by New Zealand Rail business unit Intercity.

Operation

In 1994, New Zealand Rail began The Lynx fast ferry service as part of the Interisland Line, with the 74-metre InCat catamaran Condor 10 being leased for that summer from Condor Ferries. It provided a faster alternative to the conventional ferries Aratika and Arahura. To complement the faster ferry, New Zealand Rail introduced a passenger train from Picton to Christchurch and return - the Coastal Pacific Express, connecting with the Arahura, ran from Christchurch to Picton and back. Named the Lynx Express, it debuted on Monday, 19 December 1994, and unlike the Coastal Pacific ran beyond Picton railway station to and from the ferry terminal.

Two cars from the original Southerner, later on the Northerner, were rebuilt to the same specification as the new TranzAlpine cars. They seated 50 each in seats designed for the Wairarapa Connection and Northerner/Overlander, alcove-style with tables, had panoramic windows and were air-conditioned. Along with these cars, the consist included the recently refurbished former Southerner, Northerner and InterCity spare buffet car with 24 seats and tables arranged alcove-style, and a Daewoo modular former Auckland suburban van turned power/baggage van, with a new 90-kW generator.

Despite the improved accommodation on the newer train as opposed to the Coastal Pacific and its faster timetable, with only two intermediate stops, at Blenheim and Kaikoura, it failed to attract sufficient revenue, and when the Condor 10 returned for the 1995-1996 summer the service was not resumed.

Accident

On 23 December 1994, just a few days after its introduction, the Picton-bound Lynx Express was involved in accident at a level crossing with State Highway 1 north of Omihi. A car illegally tried to cross in front of the train and was struck, resulting in the death of one of the car's occupants. The car's driver and another occupant suffered serious injuries. ^[1]

Reference

• ↑  TAIC - Passenger train T702 Lynx Express, collision with motor vehicle, near Omihi, 23 December 1994

See also

• TranzCoastal

Long Distance Passenger Trains of New Zealand

Currently operational: North Island Capital Connection - Overlander Currently operational: South Island TranzAlpine - TranzCoastal Historic: North Island Bay Express - Blue Fern - Blue Streak - Daylight Limited - Endeavour - Geyserland Express - Kaimai Express - Napier Express - New Plymouth Express - New Plymouth Night Express - Night Limited - Northerner - Northland Express - Rotorua Express - Scenic Daylight - Silver Star - Silver Fern - Taneatua Express - Taranaki Flyer - Thames Express - Waikato Connection - Wairarapa Mail Historic: South Island Culverden Express - Kingston Flyer - Lynx Express - Picton Express - Southerner - South Island Limited