Coal Mine Closure Sees Ohai Line Mothballed

KiwiRail announces line to be mothballed

KiwiRail will remove level crossing signage from just north of Lorneville. Image: Louis/stock.adobe.comMuch of the rail line between Invercargill and Ohai on New Zealand’s South Island is set to be mothballed due to a planned coal mine closure near Nightcaps.   Takitimu Mine will close in the 2026-2027 financial year, as the current coal resource is exhausted.   Bathurst Coal Ltd has said that further expansion is not viable, given its customers…

Coal Mine Closure Sees Ohai Line Mothballed

Planned closure of Takitimu Mine removes most freight need, prompting rail line mothballing decisionKiwiRail says repairing storm damage then upgrading bridges would cost many millions over five yearsFirst nine kilometres stay open to serve Lorneville meat works, coal switches fully to trucksBathurst Coal Ltd’s decision to wind up Takitimu Mine is set to quieten one of Southland’s longest branch lines. The company expects its remaining coal to r…