The Christchurch Tramway is delighted to announce the long awaited track extension is now open to the public.
Christchurch Tram. The triangular extension will include the tramcars travelling from the corner of Manchester and High Streets east along Lichfield Street before turning into Poplar Street. A new tram stop and shelter will be located on Tuam Street before the tramcars travel north along High Street to link up to the existing circuit. The extension will add another 500 metres of track to the current 4.5-kilometre circuit.
The extended circuit will include 18 stops along a 5-kilometre track linking various areas of the city as the Tram travels through New Regent Street, The Terrace and Cashel Mall, SALT District, Worcester Boulevard and Armagh Street.
Christchurch Attractions CEO Sue Sullivan says, “We are delighted to soon be operating along an extended tram route. The Tram has always been a fantastic way to easily connect areas of the city, so we are looking forward to bringing guests to the businesses of the SALT District.”
First envisaged as part of a longer extension prior to the Canterbury earthquakes, parts of the infrastructure had been installed in 2009 and 2010. The extended track follows on from a previous extension along Oxford Terrace, Cashel and High Streets opened in 2015 and will remove the need for a manual turnaround point, allowing the option of running tram trailers on the circuit for the first time in more than 10 years. Work on the extension began in 2021 after the construction was approved by Christchurch City Council in 2019.
Sullivan says, “We’d like to acknowledge the Christchurch City Council’s work in completing the extension together with their contractors, as this will be a wonderful asset for the city.”
A private official opening to celebrate the new track will be held on 2 June, with the extension to be officially opened by the Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch. Trams will then open to the public from 9:50am to travel around the extended circuit.
About the Christchurch Tram
Christchurch Tram’s heritage tramcars offer a unique way to explore Christchurch’s inner city. The all-day ticket allows for hop-on hop-off travel to discover the delights of the central city at your leisure with stops at Christchurch’s major sights including Canterbury Museum and Botanic Gardens, Arts Centre, Art Gallery, The Terrace and Riverside Market and New Regent Street. The tours on board immaculately restored tramcars offer live commentary from the local drivers and have been operating since 1995. Eco-friendly and a much-loved local icon, the Christchurch Tram is a must-do activity on any visit to the city. See www.christchurchattractions.nz for further information.
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