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Tuesday 05 March 2024
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Rail

Interim revenue jumps 53% for KiwiRail’s scenic services, surpassing pre-Covid 1st March 2024 /

Interim revenue jumps 53% for KiwiRail’s scenic services, surpassing pre-Covid

“Our scenic tourism business provided a highlight, with a return to 70% of pre-Covid passenger levels,” says the rail and ferry operator.


Some Wellington rail services temporarily suspended 23rd January 2024 /

Some Wellington rail services temporarily suspended

KiwiRail and Metlink are temporarily suspending Wellington rail services on the Hutt Valley, Melling and Wairarapa lines from today to conduct urgent inspections on overhead power cables.


Govt scraps Auckland Light Rail project… 15th January 2024 /

Govt scraps Auckland Light Rail project…

The coalition government has ditched the Auckland Light Rail project citing ballooning costs.


KiwiRail’s Great Journeys “thrilled” at NY Times recognition 15th January 2024 /

KiwiRail’s Great Journeys “thrilled” at NY Times recognition

KiwiRail says it is “beyond thrilled” to represent New Zealand in being featured on The New York Times’ 52 places to go in 2024 list.


Coastal Pacific launches premium service, returns to seven days 14th December 2023 /

Coastal Pacific launches premium service, returns to seven days

Great Journeys New Zealand’s Coastal Pacific scenic train has launched its Scenic Plus premium dining experience and returned to a full seven-day service.


Auckland, Wellington rail services cancelled for long weekend 19th October 2023 /

Auckland, Wellington rail services cancelled for long weekend

Rail networks in Auckland and Wellington will be closed over Labour Weekend to enable KiwiRail to conduct line works.


KiwiRail restarts Coastal Pacific, new dining experience coming 25th September 2023 /

KiwiRail restarts Coastal Pacific, new dining experience coming

Great Journeys New Zealand has restarted the Coastal Pacific train that runs along the South Island’s east coast.


Te Huia passenger numbers, satisfaction hit new highs 30th August 2023 /

Te Huia passenger numbers, satisfaction hit new highs

Passenger numbers on the Te Huia train between Hamilton and Auckland hit a high in August despite major disruptions to the service in July.


World Cup rail success highlights benefits – govt 28th August 2023

World Cup rail success highlights benefits – govt

Trains delivered more than 173,000 patrons travelling to FIFA Women’s World Cup games in Auckland and Wellington, demonstrating the benefits of commuter rail, according to the government.


Te Huia marks return to Auckland with free tickets 28th July 2023 /

Te Huia marks return to Auckland with free tickets

KiwiRail and Waikato Regional Council will mark Te Huia’s return to central Auckland with free tickets for a week.


Questions raised over Te Huia systems, Auckland ban 17th July 2023 /

Questions raised over Te Huia systems, Auckland ban

The Waikato Chamber of Commerce has asked WorkSafe to investigate the reasons why Waka Kotahi has banned the Te Huia passenger train from entering Auckland’s metro rail network.


Te Huia banned from Auckland metro rail network 12th July 2023 /

Te Huia banned from Auckland metro rail network

The Te Huia passenger train between Hamilton and Auckland has been banned from entering the city’s metro network, and will instead stop at Papakura rather than its usual termination point at The Strand in Parnell.


Memorial marks 100 years since passenger train derailment 11th July 2023 /

Memorial marks 100 years since passenger train derailment

A new memorial at Ongarue in the Manawatu district has been unveiled to mark 100 years since the derailment of a train that killed 17 people and seriously injured 28 others.


Auckland – Wellington commuter train “could undermine Northern Explorer” 10th July 2023 /

Auckland – Wellington commuter train “could undermine Northern Explorer”

A passenger rail service between Auckland and Wellington could potentially undermine KiwiRail’s Northern Explorer scenic train, according to feedback in a report from the Transport and Infrastructure Committee.


Budget 2023: $1bn recovery fund includes road, rail rebuild 15th May 2023 /

Budget 2023: $1bn recovery fund includes road, rail rebuild

A $1bn cyclone funding recovery package will help rebuild crucial road and rail links wiped out by summer’s extreme weather, as well as install some future flood protection measures.


Future of rail inquiry draws 1000+ submissions 8th May 2023

Future of rail inquiry draws 1000+ submissions

An inquiry on the future of inter-regional passenger rail has attracted more than 1,000 written submissions from members of the public since it began in August last year.


Rising risks for rail from climate change – TAIC 4th May 2023 /

Rising risks for rail from climate change – TAIC

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has warned of growing climate change risk to New Zealand’s rail infrastructure following a derailment.


Fixes underway for Wellington rail network 2nd May 2023 /

Fixes underway for Wellington rail network

Disruption to KiwiRail’s Wellington network and services such as the Northern Explorer due to a faulty track evaluation car could be over by the end of the week.


Northern Explorer impacted by capital’s rail restrictions 1st May 2023 /

Northern Explorer impacted by capital’s rail restrictions

Scenic train journeys on the Northern Explorer will be slower on trips between Wellington and Auckland from today.


Auckland Light Rail seeks feedback on key destinations 15th March 2023 /

Auckland Light Rail seeks feedback on key destinations

Auckland Light Rail is encouraging the public to have a say about what key destinations could be included on the 24-kilometre indicative route between the airport and central city.


KiwiRail scenic services back on track with revenue rising, restart of premium 14th March 2023 /

KiwiRail scenic services back on track with revenue rising, restart of premium

KiwiRail’s tourist trains generated $9.3m in revenue for the half year to December 2022, up from the $1.8m reported for the previous Covid-impacted corresponding period.


Auckland light rail project breaks ground 24th February 2023

Auckland light rail project breaks ground

Work on Auckland’s light rail project has begun this week, with the first of 30 bore holes being drilled in Sandringham.


Union boss concerned about ferry terminal development downgrade 16th February 2023 /

Union boss concerned about ferry terminal development downgrade

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison has expressed concern that plans to upgrade the Wellington and Picton ferry terminals may be scaled back.


Perspectives: Why restoring NZ’s long-distance passenger rail makes sense 13th February 2023 /

Perspectives: Why restoring NZ’s long-distance passenger rail makes sense

Trains in Aotearoa could help with decarbonisation as well as connecting people once again through tourism and intercity travel, write Robert McLachlan and Paul Callister.


Restored steam engine a highlight for attraction 23rd January 2023 /

Restored steam engine a highlight for attraction

Bay of Islands Vintage Railway will unveil its fully-restored steam train over the upcoming Anniversary Weekend.


Auckland rail shutdown during Anniversary Weekend 19th January 2023 / /

Auckland rail shutdown during Anniversary Weekend

Auckland’s rail network will shut down over the upcoming Anniversary Weekend, says KiwiRail.


Preferred bidders picked for Auckland Light Rail 28th September 2022

Preferred bidders picked for Auckland Light Rail

Auckland Light Rail and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have named preferred bidders for Auckland Light Rail and the additional Waitematā Harbour connections.


Feedback sought on future of inter-regional passenger rail 15th August 2022

Feedback sought on future of inter-regional passenger rail

The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is seeking public feedback on the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand.


Staff illness, shortages hit Auckland rail bus services 8th July 2022 /

Staff illness, shortages hit Auckland rail bus services

Auckland Transport is reducing the number of rail bus services as driver shortages and illness force the operator to reduce timetables.


Hamilton plan hopes to revive city centre station 13th June 2022 /

Hamilton plan hopes to revive city centre station

Tainui Group Holdings and joint venture partner Kiwi Property have announced plans to redevelop Hamilton’s Centre Place and bring a mothballed underground railway station back to life.


KiwiRail completes first electric locomotive refurb 9th June 2022 /

KiwiRail completes first electric locomotive refurb

KiwiRail’s first refurbished electric EF class locomotive has been completed as part of a progressive fleet refurbishment and return to service over the next two years.


Auckland, Northland transport projects hit milestones 16th May 2022 /

Auckland, Northland transport projects hit milestones

The tender process has begun for two major Auckland projects: Auckland Light Rail and the Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections.


GVR full steam ahead for autumn voyages 22nd March 2022 /

GVR full steam ahead for autumn voyages

Glenbrook Vintage Railway will bring the second of its seven steam locomotives back online in the next month.


$110m loan for ferry precinct redevelopment approved 8th March 2022 /

$110m loan for ferry precinct redevelopment approved

Marlborough District Council has approved a $110m loan to Port Marlborough to finance its share of the Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment.


Wellington rail services resume after protest eviction 3rd March 2022

Wellington rail services resume after protest eviction

Wellington Railway Station has reopened today and rail services resumed after being suspended last night in response to the escalated protest action around Parliament.


Auckland’s rail network reopens after maintenance 25th January 2022 /

Auckland’s rail network reopens after maintenance

Auckland’s rail network has fully re-opened after KiwiRail delivered a programme of works across the city during a temporary closure.


New operator takes over Auckland’s passenger rail 18th January 2022 /

New operator takes over Auckland’s passenger rail

Auckland One Rail has begun its partnership with Auckland Transport as the new passenger rail operator, replacing Transdev Auckland.


Te Huia to run to central Auckland on weekdays 11th November 2021

Te Huia to run to central Auckland on weekdays

The weekday Te Huia passenger rail service will now run between Hamilton and Auckland’s central city The Strand Station.


Tunnel options for Auckland CBD to airport light rail 29th October 2021 /

Tunnel options for Auckland CBD to airport light rail

Partly underground metro and tram options are being considered for the Auckland light rail link between the central city and the airport.


Go-ahead for $6.4m refurb of Dunedin Railway Station 4th October 2021

Go-ahead for $6.4m refurb of Dunedin Railway Station

A $6.4m refurbishment of Dunedin Railway Station has been given the go-ahead with the awarding of the last two stages of development to construction company Naylor Love.


$1bn passenger rail contract awarded to consortium 30th August 2021

$1bn passenger rail contract awarded to consortium

The contract for passenger rail services in Auckland has been awarded to a new consortium from April 2022, worth around $130m a year for an initial eight-year term, or $1.04bn.


$69m revamped transport hub opens 26th July 2021 /

$69m revamped transport hub opens

Bus and rail services have recommenced at Puhinui Station in Papatoetoe after a $69m revamp.


Vintage rail “spreads the love” for domestic tourism 20th July 2021 /

Vintage rail “spreads the love” for domestic tourism

A slew of new products has set up the railway for growth, with local businesses on board for the economic ride.


Sir Edmund Hillary-inspired train tour launches 19th July 2021 /

Sir Edmund Hillary-inspired train tour launches

The first tour would hit the tracks in March 2022.


Kingston Flyer gets green light for public trips 16th July 2021 /

Kingston Flyer gets green light for public trips

Historic steam train can now operate commercially on the 14km Kingston to Fairlight railway.


Direct service to Auckland on Saturdays for Te Huia train 12th July 2021

Direct service to Auckland on Saturdays for Te Huia train

Saturday trains operating at capacity on some services, according to Waikato regional councillor Hugh Vercoe.


Te Huia service boosting weekend leisure travel – Dawson 8th July 2021

Te Huia service boosting weekend leisure travel – Dawson

The service has attracted criticism for low weekday passengers but Saturday services can be full.


Auckland metro to shut for maintenance 3rd June 2021

Auckland metro to shut for maintenance

All four metro lines in Auckland’s rail system will close for Queen’s Birthday weekend for maintenance.


Full steam ahead for inaugural South Island tour 4th May 2021 /

Full steam ahead for inaugural South Island tour

Pounamu Tourism Group’s inaugural Great Southern Steam Train Tour has hit the tracks running exceeding forecasts of its economic impact with sell-out excursions.


Tourism service could revive Dunedin Railways – RMTU 12th April 2021

Tourism service could revive Dunedin Railways – RMTU

Union calling on the city council to retain the Dunedin rail service on the national network.