Rail

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

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

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

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 has fully re-opened after KiwiRail delivered a programme of works across the city during a temporary closure.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

The first tour would hit the tracks in March 2022.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

There would be two return services on weekdays to get commuters to Papakura in time for the start of the workday.

Passenger trains started rolling again at Auckland’s Britomart Station on Monday after a three-week closure for a new scissor track crossing and some rail replacement.

KiwiRail’s Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific trains will resume service from late Spring.

Auckland’s commuter trains will operate at slower speeds asd KiwiRail carries out repairs on worn tracks.

Downer NZ has been awarded the contract for the Third Main project, in Auckland, delivering an additional main rail line into Auckland.

The 70% funding cut raises questions over plans for premium services on the operator’s tourist trains.

Dunedin Railways Limited is calling for proposals to identify and evaluate options for using the Taieri Gorge railway line.

KiwiRail’s long distance scenic services will be back this summer after closing during the Covid-19 lockdown.

CEO Greg Miller says plans for luxury services on its tourism trains have had to be revised.

KiwiRail has received a further $13m of government funding for improving the resilience of its iconic TranzAlpine tourist train route.

The money is going to projects in Whangarei and the Bay of Islands, including Kawakawa’s vintage railway.

Dunedin City Holdings has applied to the Government’s Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme for assets including the Taieri Gorge line.

Pounamu Tourism Group shareholders have funded the new product, which plans to launch in April 2021.

The Government has withdrawn from its twin track Auckland Light Rail project and referred it to the Ministry of Transport for further work.

KiwiRail has restarted the Christchurch-Greymouth TranzAlpine service from 4 July but is closing some Dunedin services.

KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine between Christchurch and Greymouth will return to service on 4 July.

A proposed luxury train journey called Antipodean Explorer is officially “on hold” according to director Richard Aitken.

Wairarapa Train services will return to their regular timetable from Monday, May 4 in line with the return to normal timetables for all Metlink rail services, according to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

A significant track maintenance programme is underway on Auckland’s Eastern train line, says KiwiRail. 

Almost 70 roles are to go as the city grapples with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A West Coast tourist train would find it difficult to generate a suitable return for KiwiRail but it could bring wider benefits to the region, according to a feasibility report. 

The union representing rail workers says money from the Provincial Growth Fund could ensure the future of rail excursions to Middlemarch.

Income from the SOE’s Interislander and scenic trains services fell in the six months to December 2019.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has started an overhaul of train carriages used on the Wairarapa Line.

KiwiRail is seek expressions of interest for Auckland rail commuter projects worth $686m.

The government’s Draft New Zealand Rail Plan has proposed a new long-term funding framework for rail which would see Kiwirail’s network funding channelled through the National Land Transport Fund.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has made a business case to the tune of $415m for the delivery of the new trains and associated network improvements in the face of accelerated regional population growth. 

KiwiRail, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance have won the Supreme Award at the Engineering NZ ENVI Awards.

The operator is targetting expansion into three regions for its scenic services.

KiwiRail’s restoration of its rail line between Picton and Christchurch following the November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake has been recognised internationally.

Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology has launched a new model railway at the historic Waitakere train station.