Lynx Express (train)
Encyclopedia
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 Limited
business unit InterCity Rail.
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, 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 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.
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.
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
that ran the length of the Main North Line between Picton
Picton, New Zealand
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. The service was operated by New Zealand Rail Limited
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
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 InCatInternational Catamarans
Incat is a manufacturer of large HSC catamarans, based in the Derwent Park suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia founded by Bob Clifford. The company builds large commercial and military vessels that use aluminium construction, wave-piercing and water-jet technology...
catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
Condor 10
HSC Condor 10
The HSC Condor 10 is a 74m fast catamaran ferry formerly operated by Condor Ferries but now operating in Pusan, South Korea.-History:Condor 10 was built in 1992 at the Incat Yards in Tasmania, Australia as Condor Ten but was renamed Condor 10 shortly after...
being leased for that summer from Condor Ferries
Condor Ferries
Condor Ferries is an operator of ferry services between mainland England and the Channel Islands, between England and France, and between France and the Channel Islands.-Recent history:...
. It provided a faster alternative to the conventional ferries Aratika
Aratika (ferry)
The MV Aratika was a ferry that served the Interisland Line, taking passengers between Wellington and Picton in New Zealand. The aging Aratika, was replaced in 1999 by the since problem-plagued MV Aratere.- History :...
and Arahura
Arahura (ferry)
DEV Arahura is a roll-on roll-off diesel-electric rail ferry built in 1982 for the New Zealand Railways Corporation. She remains in service on the Interislander route across the Cook Strait in New Zealand.-History:...
. 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
Northerner (train)
The Northerner was an overnight passenger train between Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand. Originally numbered 227 southbound and 626 northbound, it replaced the unnamed and less revered ordinary express trains supplementing the luxurious Silver Star , which had replaced the Night Limited in...
, were rebuilt to the same specification as the new TranzAlpine
TranzAlpine
The TranzAlpine Express is a passenger train operated by Tranz Scenic in the South Island of New Zealand. This trip is often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes . The journey is one-way, taking about four and a half hours...
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
Daewoo
Daewoo or the Daewoo Group was a major South Korean chaebol . It was founded on 22 March 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999...
modular former Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
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
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
and Kaikoura
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1 180 km north of Christchurch.Kaikoura became the first local authority to reach the Green Globe tourism certification standard....
, 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 1State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
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.