The rail bridge over the Rangitata River in South Canterbury has been closed after high floodwaters washed away a pier under the bridge on Friday morning.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said all train movements in the area had been stopped after one of 34 piers in the 610-metre-long bridge was washed away.

“The missing pier has resulted in the steel bridge spans sagging,” the spokesperson said.

“KiwiRail engineers are currently putting together a repair plan, but at this stage we have been unable to undertake a close physical inspection of the damage due to the high water levels.”

The spokesperson said the rail bridge is an important part of the rail connection linking Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch.