Railways in

New Zealand

The Marlborough Flyer steam train pauses in vineyards near Blenheim,
headed by the historic World War I Memorial locomotive Ab608, “Passchendaele”.

The first railway in New Zealand opened in 1863 between Christchurch and Ferrymead Wharf, a distance of 5½ miles (9km). The gauge chosen was 5ft 3in (1600mm) to suit stock purchased secondhand from a railway in Australia. By 1867 a 3 miles (4.8km) extension was constructed to the new port of Lyttelton, including a 2860 yards (2615m) tunnel. With the opening of the new port the last ½ mile (0.8km) of the line serving Ferrymead declined in importance. It closed a few years later, but a new tourist railway constructed on the formation opened in 1977 as part of the Ferrymead Heritage Park.

By 1873, a network of over 75 miles (120km) of broad gauge line had grown up around Christchurch, while in the meantime a 17½ miles (28km) standard (1435mm) gauge had been constructed from Invercargill to Bluff. However, in 1870 a governmental decision was made in the light of the difficult terrain to be encountered in much of the country that all new railway construction would be to 3ft 6in (1067mm) gauge. The first railway built to this gauge opened in 1873 between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Later the same year, the first railway in the North Island was opened, between Auckland and Onehunga. The original broad and standard gauge railways were later converted to 3ft 6in (1067mm).

The rail network today extends over 4000km, more than half of which retains regular passenger services.

Main Line, Commuter and Urban Railways

• KiwiRail the national operator, including:
  • Great Journeys of New Zealand long distance passenger services
  • KiwiRail Freight freight services
• Auckland
  • AT commuter rail services
  • Auckland Light Rail proposed light rail
  • Te Huia regional rail service to Waikato
  • MOTAT heritage street tramway connecting the two MOTAT sites in Western Springs, about 1.7km. Operates every day except Christmas Day
• Christchurch heritage trams
• Wellington
  • Transdev Wellington commuter rail service
  • Cable Car historic funicular railway connecting central Wellington to the Botanic Gardens and Kelburn area
  • MRT proposed trams
  • Tramway Museum heritage trams in Queen Elizabeth Park, Kapiti Coast. Operates weekends and public holidays throughout the year, daily during school summer holidays.

Tourist and Museum Railways

• Bay of Islands Vintage Railway tourist railway from Kawakawa to Taumarere, about 9km. Proposed extension to Opua, a further 2km. 1067mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates Fridays to Sundays throughout the year, every day during school and public holidays.
• Blenheim Riverside Railway 2ft (610mm) gauge railway, with separate services from Brayshaw Park to Beaver (central Blenheim) or Brayshaw Park to Omaka (Aviation Heritage centre). Diesel hauled. Operates a few days each month.
• Driving Creek Railway 15in (381mm) gauge railway near Coromandel Town, originally constructed to convey clay and timber to a pottery. Trains carry passengers to a height of 172m up a wooded hillside in spectacular fashion on a line with numerous loops, switchbacks and viaducts. Diesel hauled. Operates daily except Christmas Day.
• Dunedin Railways tourist railway from Dunedin to Middlemarch, 77km through the Taieri Gorge. 1067mm gauge, diesel hauled. Operates most days throughout the year.
• Ferrymead Heritage Park near Christchurch has an electric street tramway and a steam hauled railway. These operate typically one Sunday each month throughout the year, more frequently in summer.
• Gisborne City Vintage Railway tourist railway from Gisborne to Muriwai, about 16km. 1067mm gauge, steam hauled. Operates several weekends each month throughout the year.
• Glenbrook Vintage Railway tourist railway from Glenbrook to Waiuku, 7.5km. 1067mm gauge, steam hauled. Operates Sundays and a few other days, late October to early June. Also operates occasional excursions on KiwiRail tracks out of Hamilton.
• Goldfields Railway tourist railway from Waihi to Waikino, about 7km. 1067mm gauge, diesel hauled. Operates weekends and certain other days throughout the year.
• Marlborough Flyer steam hauled tourist trains on the KiwiRail network based at Blenheim. Many services operate in conjunction with cruise ships calling at Picton. Other local services operate, typically on Sundays. Extended land cruises are also offered.
• Ocean Beach Railway preserved harbour / industrial style railway in St Kilda, Dunedin. Narrow gauge, steam and diesel hauled. Operates most Sundays during the summer.
• Pahiatua Railcar Society museum at Pahiatua with preserved diesel railcars, offering occasional main line excursions
• Plains Vintage Railway museum near Ashburton with a 2km operating railway. 1067mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled or diesel railcar. Operates typically one or two days each month from October to May, and by private charter.
• Pleasant Point Museum & Railway museum in Pleasant Point with a 1.8km operating railway. 1067mm gauge, steam hauled or diesel railcar. Steam train operates at least one day each month, more frequently in summer. Railcar operates on same days, also most days in peak season, and by private charter.
• Railcruising self drive powered trolleys on a 10km line between Mamaku and Tarukenga.
• Shantytown Heritage Park open air museum near Greymouth recreating a typical gold mining village, featuring steam hauled passenger trains on a 1.5km route. Operates daily except Christmas Day.
• Silver Stream Railway museum at Silverstream, Upper Hutt, with a 1.5km operating railway. 1067mm gauge, steam hauled. Operates most Sundays and public holidays throughout the year, and by private charter.
• Waitara Railway tourist railway from Waitara to Lepperton, 7.2km. 1067mm gauge, diesel hauled. Operates most Sundays from September to May, less frequently June to August, and on other days by prior arrangement.
• Weka Pass Railway tourist railway from Glenmark station (Waipara) to Waikari, 13km. Standard gauge, diesel hauled. Operates at least two Sundays and public holidays each month from October to July.
• Whangarei Steam & Model Railway Club passenger trains at Kiwi North Heritage Park, Whangerai. 1067mm gauge, usually steam hauled. Operates typically one Sunday each month, also on Heritage Park special event days and by special arrangement. There is also a miniature railway operated by the Whangarei Model Engineering Club.

Miniature Railways

• Cambridge MES Leamington Domain, Cambridge. 300m, 7¼in (184mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year.
• Canterbury SMEE Halswell Domain, Christchurch. Over 1km, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year and for special events.
• Cross Creek Railway Featherston. 7¼in (184mm) gauge, diesel hauled, one locomotive with a steam outline. Operates most weekends throughout the year.
• Hamilton Model Engineers Minogue Park, Hamilton. Over 1.6km, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year and by private charter.
• Hutt Valley MES Marine Parade, Petone, Wellington. 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public most Sundays throughout the year.
• Kapiti Miniature Railway Marine Gardens, Raumati Beach. A little under 1km, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam, diesel or battery electric hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year and by private charter.
• Keirunga Park Railway Keirunga Park, Havelock North. 846m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, usually steam hauled. Open to the public typically 2 Sundays each month.
• Lions Club of Aotea Railway Aotea Lagoon, Porirua. 832m, 18in (457mm) gauge, diesel hauled. Operates Sundays throughout the year.
• Maidstone Park Miniature Railway Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt. Various gauges, ride astride. Open to the public typically 2 Sundays each month.
• Manukau Live Steamers Centre Park, Mangere, Auckland. Two circuits toalling over 2km, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam, diesel or battery electric hauled. Open to the public most Sundays throughout the year and for special events.
• Masterton Miniature Train Queen Elizabeth II Park, Masterton. 10¼in (260mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates weekends throughout the year.
• Nelson Society of Modellers Tahunanui, Nelson. 980m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public most Sundays throughout the year.
• New Plymouth SMEE New Plymouth. 5in (127mm) and 3½in (89mm) gauge, ride astride, steam or battery electric hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year, also for special events or by private charter.
• Palmerston North Esplanade Scenic Railway Palmerston North. 2150m, 10¼in (260mm) gauge, diesel hauled. Operates weekends and public holidays throughout the year, daily during school holidays, and by private charter.
• Palmerston North MEC Palmerston North. 480m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public typically 2 Sundays each month.
• River Edge Park Miniature Railway River Edge Park, Whakatane. 440m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public typically 2 Sundays each month.
• Thames Small Gauge Railway Thames. 900m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates Sundays throughout the year, and by private charter.
• Tauranga Miniature Railway Memorial Park, Tauranga. 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, usually diesel or battery electric hauled, occasionally steam hauled. Open to the public Sundays throughout the year.
• Waipuna Miniature Railway Mount Wellington, Auckland. 650m, 7¼in (184mm) and 5in (127mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Open to the public most Sundays throughout the year.

See also:

• Cook Islands