The Coastal Pacific is a long-distance passenger train that runs between Picton and Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand.

The service was suspended after 14 November 2016 due to damage to the rail line from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, but in 2018-19, ran from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 28 April.

[3] In November 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced $40 million for KiwiRail from the Provincial Growth Fund, to provide year-round service and to upgrade the Kaikoura, Blenheim and Picton stations.

Following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Canterbury on 22 February 2011, KiwiRail suspended the train, replacing it with a bus service until 10 April 2011.

[18] The 7.8 magnitude North Canterbury earthquake on 14 November 2016 caused numerous landslides that destroyed parts of the railway line in the Kaikōura district.

[22][23] The train runs daily between Christchurch and Picton, stopping at Rangiora, Kaikōura, and Blenheim[24] along the Main North Line.

The initial rolling stock for the Coastal Pacific consisted of the last three original Southerner day carriages.

An FM class guards van was fitted with an 11-kW petrol generator at the handbrake end for power and baggage duties.

[citation needed] On 19 January 1987, a private tourism firm leased a 29 (later 45) seat single-lavatory South Island Main Trunk first-class car refurbished in 1970 for the Southerner and attached it to the Picton train initially, before expanding its operation to Greymouth and later Invercargill.

Later, the second backpacker carriage had air conditioning installed, and in late 2003, it was transferred north for use on the Overlander or Wairarapa Connection.