Service Updates

Freight is now moving freely between the North and South Islands via State Highway 7 but the additional distance via this route and the reduced ferry sailing frequency continues to add to normal transit times.

From Monday the 21st November Mainstream plans to add further linehaul trucks and drivers to their inter-island service. They have effectively replaced the capacity lost through no rail link operating between Picton and Christchurch with high capacity road units and the additional drivers required to operate them. This added resource will see their inter-island service return to near normal transit times of between 2 -3 days. There may still be some disruption to sending Dangerous Goods inter-island until the Cook Strait ferry’s resume their normal operations.

The costs to operate under these new and challenging conditions however can’t be ignored. Whilst they have endeavoured to minimise the effect of any increase, costs in operating the additional fleet, drivers and the longer distances travelled are significant and cannot be absorbed within the current inter-island rates. As a result, Mainstream will apply a surcharge of 15% to inter-island rates from Monday the 21st of November. This applies to all freight sent from the North Island to South Island destinations excluding Nelson and Blenheim and for freight sent from the South Island (excluding Nelson and Blenheim) to the North Island. Goods sent from Blenheim to all other South Island destinations will also be subject to surcharge. This relies on the alternate route of State Highway 7 remaining open to heavy vehicles. Mainstream may be required to review the surcharge should access to this route cease.

The surcharge will ultimately be removed once the main road and rail routes have been restored.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact your account manager.