Rapahoe Branch

The $15m project was funded largely by state coal miner Solid Energy and took 18 months to build.

Its southern end has also been reorientated away from Greymouth to a new junction at Omoto, a move designed to eliminate the need for trains to and from the branch to need to enter Greymouth to reposition the locomotives and the attendant road and rail disruption this caused.

The Department cited the unsound nature of the structure and noted that the funds that would be required to restore it would exceed its budget for the area.

In the era of steam locomotives, the line was typically worked by members of the A, B, and BA classes.

In 1969, the line was dieselised and members of the DJ and DSC classes became the typical motive power.

Services were temporarily suspended during the second half of 2007 as the coal mine served ceased production while a programme of upgrades was undertaken.

Trains operated twice daily between Rapahoe and Lyttelton[6] until early June 2007, when they were adjusted to run only when required.