- Lynx Express
: "For the UK parcel delivery company, see
LYNX Express ."The Lynx Express was a long-distance passenger train in theSouth Island ofNew Zealand that ran the length of the Main North Line between Picton andChristchurch . The service was operated by New Zealand Rail Limited business unit InterCity Rail.Operation
In 1994, New Zealand Rail began The Lynx fast ferry service as part of the
Interisland Line , with the 74-metre InCatcatamaran Condor 10 being leased for that summer fromCondor Ferries . It provided a faster alternative to the conventional ferries Aratika and Arahura. To complement the faster ferry, a passenger train from Picton to Christchurch and return was introduced. Named the Lynx Express, it debuted on Monday,19 December 1994 , and unlike the Coastal Pacific, it ran beyond Picton railway station to and from the ferry terminal. The Coastal Pacific Express, connecting with the conventional ferries, ran from Christchurch to Picton and back.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 theWairarapa 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 aDaewoo modular formerAuckland 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 ofOmihi . 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. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20070313135411/http://www2.taic.org.nz/InvDetail/94-129.aspx TAIC - Passenger train T702 Lynx Express, collision with motor vehicle, near Omihi,23 December 1994 ] ]References
ee also
*
TranzCoastal
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