Railways in
New Zealand
The first railway in New Zealand opened in 1863 between Christchurch
and Lyttelton. The distance was just 3 miles (4.8km), yet it included a
tunnel 2860 yards (2615m) in length. It was built to a gauge of 5ft 3in
(1600mm), but was later converted to 3ft 6in (1067mm) gauge for
standardization with railways that were being constructed elsewhere in
the country. The majority of subsequent development was at this latter
gauge.
As in most countries, the network is today considerably smaller than
at its greatest extent in the mid-20th century, but remains at over 4000km,
more than half of which enjoys regular passenger services.
- Tranz Scenic long distance
passenger trains on North and South Islands
- Tranz Metro
local services in the Wellington area
- Kiwi Rail
freight services
- Ontrack
infrastructure authority
- Bay of Islands Vintage Railway steam hauled
tourist railway about 3km in length in Kawakawa. Proposed extension
to Opua, a further 11km
- Driving Creek Railway 15in (381mm) gauge railway
near Coromandel Town. Specially constructed railcars ascend a wooded
hillside in spectacular fashion on a line with numerous loops,
switchbacks and viaducts
- Gisborne City
Vintage Railway steam hauled excursions operating out of Gisborne
- Glenbrook
Vintage Railway steam hauled tourist railway between Glenbrook and
Fernleigh, a distance of 6km. Extension proposed to Waiuku, a further
2km
- Goldfields
Railway steam hauled tourist railway between Waihi and Waikino
- Kingston
Flyer steam hauled tourist railway between Kingston and Fairlight,
a distance of 14km
- Ocean Beach
Railway preserved harbour / industrial style railway in Dunedin.
Steam and diesel hauled (Website contains no information
regarding opening times, prices, etc and contact form was not working
when last checked)
- Pahiatua
Railcar Society museum at Pahiatua with preserved diesel railcars,
plans to commence operating main line excursions from 2009
- Plains
Vintage Railway 3ft 6in (1067mm) gauge tourist line about 2km in
length near Ashburton. Steam or diesel hauled or diesel railcar
- Pleasant Point Museum & Railway 3ft 6in
(1067mm) gauge tourist line near Timaru. Steam hauled or diesel
railcar
- Shantytown
open air museum recreating a typical gold mining village, including
steam hauled passenger trains. Cab rides are also available
- Silver Stream Railway tourist railway
at Silverstream, about 25km northeast of Wellington
- Taieri Gorge
Railway tourist railway between Dundedin and Middlemarch, a distance
of 77km
- Waitakere Tramline Society tourist trains
operating on a 3.5km stretch of the 2ft (610mm) gauge industrial
tramway constructed to service the Waitakere dam, west of Auckland.
Diesel hauled using the original tramway locomotives
- Waitara Railway tourist railway between Waitara
and Lepperton, east of New Plymouth. 7.2km, diesel hauled
- Weka
Pass Railway tourist railway with steam and diesel hauled trains
between Glenmark station (Waipara) and Waikari, a distance of 13km
- Whangaparaoa Narrow Gauge Railway 15in (381mm)
gauge railway in a wooded park in Stanmore Bay, north of Auckland.
Steam and diesel hauled, mainly using former industrial equipment
- Whangarei Steam & Model Railway Club passenger
trains, usually steam hauled, operating on certain days at the
Whangarei Museum, Whangerai,
Northland
- Ferrymead
Heritage Park includes an electric tramway and a steam hauled
railway
- Auckland
- Christchurch
historic trams
- Wellington Cable Car historic funicular railway
connecting central Wellington to the Botanic Gardens and Kelburn area
- Wellington Tramway Museum historic trams in Queen
Elizabeth Park, about 45km north of Wellington
- Tramways Wanganui Trust project to open a tram
route in Wanganui, using historic vehicles
