Work is continuing to clear the railway line south of Kaikoura, after a North Canterbury landslide derailed a northbound freight train late last night.
Rail services between Picton and Christchurch were expected to resume late tomorrow once the track had been cleared, KiwiRail said this afternoon.
Two locomotives and several wagons derailed when the 30-wagon freight train hit the slip between Claverley and Oaro around 11pm.
The driver of the locomotive suffered minor injuries, and was treated at a local medical centre, before being discharged early today.
"It's a relatively inaccessible sort of spot, it's not easy to get machinery in and out of," KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said.
About six to 10 trains were due to use the line today and material bound for Christchurch would be moved by road if the slip could not be cleared quickly, Mr Ramshaw said.
The TranzCoastal Picton-Christchurch passenger service does not run during winter.
