As of yesterday evening the South Island Main Trunk Railway north from Dunedin to Oamaru and south of Dunedin to Balclutha was still closed due to a number of significant slips on the rail corridor, particularly at Shag Point.
KiwiRail South Island infrastructure manager Gary Ikin said the line was closed between Timaru and Invercargill last Thursday afternoon as the weather deteriorated.
"There have been numerous slips onto our rail line, areas where the tracks were washed out, and in some places the tracks were underwater."
The most damaged areas were initially north of Dunedin, around Shag Point where several significant slips had blocked the tracks.
"We have now reopened the track between Invercargill and Balclutha. In Dunedin . . . we have just resumed carrying freight to Port Chalmers, and between Timaru and Oamaru."
