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Rail & Ferry


Sarin Hotels, East by West win business excellence awards
23 Nov 2023   /

Sarin Hotels, East by West win business excellence awards

Sarin Hotels and Easy By West Ferries have won awards at the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards on Friday.


Fullers360’s Waiheke fares avoid regulation
13 Nov 2023  

Fullers360’s Waiheke fares avoid regulation

Fullers360 chief executive Mike Horne has welcomed Waka Kotahi’s decision to continue the ferry service’s exempt status regarding fare pricing.


Te Huia to add additional services
25 Oct 2023   /

Te Huia to add additional services

The Te Huia passenger train between Hamilton and Auckland will run additional weekday and weekend services from February next year.


New Waiheke Island ferry service to launch
24 Oct 2023   /

New Waiheke Island ferry service to launch

New ferry operator Island Direct will launch its service between Auckland city and Waiheke Island on 13 November 2023.


Auckland, Wellington rail services cancelled for long weekend
19 Oct 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.


Tourism recovery drives scenic train services, Interislander rebound – KiwiRail
3 Oct 2023  

Tourism recovery drives scenic train services, Interislander rebound – KiwiRail

The SOE’s scenic train operations saw revenue jump more than 600% in FY23.


Fullers360 launches new bookable Waiheke service
3 Oct 2023  

Fullers360 launches new bookable Waiheke service

Fullers360 is adding a new service to Waiheke Island from November that will complement its current sailings over the summer.


Joint effort to save Taieri Gorge Railway
29 Sep 2023  

Joint effort to save Taieri Gorge Railway

A joint effort between The Otago Excursion Train Trust (OETT) and Auckland-based Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) aims to save the Taieri Gorge Railway and its operator, Dunedin Railways.


KiwiRail restarts Coastal Pacific, new dining experience coming
25 Sep 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.


Explore Group launches new island service
25 Sep 2023   /

Explore Group launches new island service

Explore Group has launched sailings to Auckland’s Rotoroa Island.


Explore snaps up Auckland services after Fullers360 pulls out
18 Sep 2023   /

Explore snaps up Auckland services after Fullers360 pulls out

Ferry and tourism operator Explore Group will take over Auckland’s Bayswater and Birkenhead / Te Onewa Northcote Point ferry routes from 1 October 2023.


Fullers360 raises wages for skippers, deckhands
18 Sep 2023  

Fullers360 raises wages for skippers, deckhands

Fullers360 is raising wages for its deckhands and skippers in the second pay increases this year.


KiwiRail makes improvements to tackle disruptions
5 Sep 2023  

KiwiRail makes improvements to tackle disruptions

KiwiRail has made four improvements to its track evaluation car (TEC) procedures to ensure further disruptions to its network are avoided.


Te Huia passenger numbers, satisfaction hit new highs
30 Aug 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
28 Aug 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.


Fullers cuts ferry services to focus on crew training
18 Aug 2023   /

Fullers cuts ferry services to focus on crew training

Fullers360 is making further cuts to its Auckland Transport services for up to 18 months as it doubles down on staff training programme.


Revenue tops pre-Covid for Fullers360 owner, but so do costs leading to loss
10 Aug 2023   /

Revenue tops pre-Covid for Fullers360 owner, but so do costs leading to loss

The company’s international patronage will be back to pre-Covid levels by October, says Souter Holdings Fullers.


“Don’t waste a crisis” – Interislander’s Rushbrook on ferry fixes ahead of expected strong summer
2 Aug 2023   /

“Don’t waste a crisis” – Interislander’s Rushbrook on ferry fixes ahead of expected strong summer

The ferry operator’s boss says it has “doubled down” on maintenance to ensure a strong-looking summer ahead is not plagued by problems.


TranzAlpine to commemorate 100 years of Ōtira tunnel
2 Aug 2023  

TranzAlpine to commemorate 100 years of Ōtira tunnel

KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine scenic train is putting on a special journey to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a crucial tunnel link between the West Coast and the South Island.


Te Huia marks return to Auckland with free tickets
28 Jul 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
17 Jul 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
12 Jul 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
11 Jul 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”
10 Jul 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.


AT signs off on fourth low-emission ferry
29 Jun 2023   /

AT signs off on fourth low-emission ferry

Auckland Transport says it will introduce a hybrid-electric ferry on its Devonport services from 2026.


KiwiRail selling freight ferry to free up funding, crew
20 Jun 2023   /

KiwiRail selling freight ferry to free up funding, crew

KiwiRail plans to sell its Valentine ferry to free up funding and crew for further passenger and freight ferries.


KiwiRail adds new West Coast travel packages to TranzAlpine
2 Jun 2023   /

KiwiRail adds new West Coast travel packages to TranzAlpine

KiwiRail’s Great Journeys New Zealand has added new rail-based tourism packages to its TranzAlpine experience to encourage visitors to explore the West Coast.


Budget 2023’s tourism winners: Major & cultural events, Te Puia, and ITP…
19 May 2023   /

Budget 2023’s tourism winners: Major & cultural events, Te Puia, and ITP…

Te Puia’s NZMACI receives nearly $6m and the Major Events Fund almost $18m.


KiwiRail “sorry” for ferry power outage, promises more checks
8 May 2023   /

KiwiRail “sorry” for ferry power outage, promises more checks

An investigation into a power outage on Interislander’s Kaitaki ferry on 28 January 2023 has found that KiwiRail did not correctly follow its own equipment replacement processes.


Future of rail inquiry draws 1000+ submissions
8 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
4 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
2 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
1 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.


KiwiRail fined $350k for failing to protect worker
20 Apr 2023  

KiwiRail fined $350k for failing to protect worker

KiwiRail has been fined $350,000 and ordered to pay $30,000 in reparations after a worker was injured on an Interislander ferry.


Fullers360: Govt move on migrant maritime workers will address critical labour shortage
12 Apr 2023   /

Fullers360: Govt move on migrant maritime workers will address critical labour shortage

Fullers360 has welcomed the government’s move to improve residency pathways for skippers and deck hands under the transport sector agreement.


Govt to ease residency rules for migrant skippers to help operators
11 Apr 2023   /

Govt to ease residency rules for migrant skippers to help operators

The transport sector agreement is being extended to help ferry businesses access workers.


Interislander ferry Kaitaki to return to service tomorrow…
11 Apr 2023   /

Interislander ferry Kaitaki to return to service tomorrow…

The Kaitaki ferry will be back in full service tomorrow, Wednesday 12 April, after being out of service since 4 March due to a gearbox issue. 


…with ComCom to investigate Interislander, StraitNZ over ferry issues
11 Apr 2023   /

…with ComCom to investigate Interislander, StraitNZ over ferry issues

The Commerce Commission is launching an investigation into Interislander and StraitNZ, the owner of Bluebridge, about the ongoing ferry delays and cancellations.


Fullers360 cancels services ahead of busy Easter
6 Apr 2023  

Fullers360 cancels services ahead of busy Easter

Fullers360 is urging people travelling to and from Waiheke Island over the Easter break to plan ahead and travel during off peak times.


Fullers360 reduces off-peak Waiheke Island fares by 50%
30 Mar 2023   /

Fullers360 reduces off-peak Waiheke Island fares by 50%

Fullers360 is reducing fares from Auckland to Waiheke Island during off-peak hours, in a move its chief executive says will make a positive difference to passengers, tourism operators and Waiheke Island business owners.


Easter sailings confirmed for 90% of passengers – Interislander
28 Mar 2023   /

Easter sailings confirmed for 90% of passengers – Interislander

KiwiRail’s Interislander says almost all passengers with bookings during Easter will be able cross the Cook Strait.


Support urged for “vulnerable” Cook Strait shipping
22 Mar 2023  

Support urged for “vulnerable” Cook Strait shipping

Mayor Nadine Taylor and Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter have jointly written to Transport Minister Michael Wood, expressing concerns about the lack of support for ships in the Cook Strait.


Auckland Light Rail seeks feedback on key destinations
15 Mar 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
14 Mar 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.


Marlborough open for business despite “perfect storm” of ferry problems – Moffat
13 Mar 2023   /

Marlborough open for business despite “perfect storm” of ferry problems – Moffat

A “perfect storm” of ferry maintenance work and breakdowns have caused accommodation shortages and heartache for travellers looking to cross the Cook Strait.


IWD2023: KiwiRail’s Tracey Goodall on her journey to leadership
6 Mar 2023   /

IWD2023: KiwiRail’s Tracey Goodall on her journey to leadership

To mark International Women’s Day this week, the Ticker is publishing a series of articles from women leaders in tourism and will look at the state of equality in the sector.


Interislander’s Kaitaki ferry to resume passenger services
3 Mar 2023   /

Interislander’s Kaitaki ferry to resume passenger services

The Interislander ferry Kaitaki will resume passenger services tomorrow following the go-ahead from independent assessors and Maritime New Zealand.


DCC looks to enhance Taieri Gorge tourist train
2 Mar 2023   /

DCC looks to enhance Taieri Gorge tourist train

The Dunedin City Council is exploring new ways to revitalise Dunedin Railways Limited and the Taieri Gorge train service.


“Ferry operators different to airlines” – Interislander sticks by refund, compensation policy
28 Feb 2023   /

“Ferry operators different to airlines” – Interislander sticks by refund, compensation policy

The Cook Strait operators are accused of flouting compensation rules but they may not have to meet the same standard as airlines.


Auckland light rail project breaks ground
24 Feb 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.