 The contractors who had built the line operated the trains until 31 July 1868, when the Canterbury Provincial Railways took direct control.The Canterbury Provincial Railways built two lines into rural areas along the east coast, the Main South Line to Timaru and eventually Dunedin, and the Main North Line towards Marlborough.Both lines were built as broad gauge, as far as Rakaia on the Main South Line, reached in June 1873, and Amberley 50 km north of Christchurch, on the Main North Line.