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KiwiRail hopes to get a greater concept of the extent of the storm harm to the rail bridge over the Rangitata River in Canterbury at this time, as water ranges begin to drop.
A piece of the 610-metre-long bridge is sagging, after floodwaters washed away certainly one of its help buildings on Friday.
All freight companies utilizing the bridge have been suspended.
The rail firm’s chief infrastructure officer, André Lovatt, stated information from drone footage taken on Saturday was being analysed and a restoration plan was below approach.
KiwiRail employees deliberate to examine the bridge on Sunday morning – and to even have one other, nearer look utilizing drones – to verify what repairs had been wanted.
However Lovatt stated work couldn’t start till the river receded to secure ranges.
The bridge is a vital railway linking Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch with about eight freight trains ordinarily travelling throughout it each weekday, and about 5 every weekend.
Lovatt stated on Saturday he was dedicated to retaining freight transferring for patrons and was working with these affected to seek out various choices for them.
“We are going to proceed to run rail companies from the north to Christchurch and Ashburton and from the south to Timaru.
“Connecting rail freight can be managed utilizing street bridging operations.”
No passenger trains journey on the road south of Christchurch, he stated.
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