2nd May 2024 KiwiRail / RailGreat Journeys NZ upgrades its offer on its South Island service and plans to roll it out across all of its tourist trains.
2nd May 2024 Rail / Te HuiaA two-year review of Te Huia, the Waikato to Auckland passenger rail service, shows it has delivered or is close to delivering all the targets set by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Board.
4th April 2024 Rail / RailbookersUS-based rail booking agent Railbookers has restarted the promotion of New Zealand train journeys and itineraries.
1st March 2024 KiwiRail / Rail“Our scenic tourism business provided a highlight, with a return to 70% of pre-Covid passenger levels,” says the rail and ferry operator.
23rd January 2024 KiwiRail / RailKiwiRail 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.
15th January 2024 Government / RailThe coalition government has ditched the Auckland Light Rail project citing ballooning costs.
15th January 2024 KiwiRail / RailKiwiRail says it is “beyond thrilled” to represent New Zealand in being featured on The New York Times’ 52 places to go in 2024 list.
14th December 2023 KiwiRail / RailGreat Journeys New Zealand’s Coastal Pacific scenic train has launched its Scenic Plus premium dining experience and returned to a full seven-day service.
19th October 2023 KiwiRail / RailRail networks in Auckland and Wellington will be closed over Labour Weekend to enable KiwiRail to conduct line works.
25th September 2023 KiwiRail / RailGreat Journeys New Zealand has restarted the Coastal Pacific train that runs along the South Island’s east coast.
30th August 2023 KiwiRail / RailPassenger numbers on the Te Huia train between Hamilton and Auckland hit a high in August despite major disruptions to the service in July.
28th August 2023 RailTrains 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.
28th July 2023 KiwiRail / RailKiwiRail and Waikato Regional Council will mark Te Huia’s return to central Auckland with free tickets for a week.
17th July 2023 KiwiRail / RailThe 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.
12th July 2023 KiwiRail / RailThe 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.
11th July 2023 KiwiRail / RailA 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.
10th July 2023 KiwiRail / RailA 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.
15th May 2023 Rail / RoadsA $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.
8th May 2023 RailAn 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.
4th May 2023 KiwiRail / RailThe Transport Accident Investigation Commission has warned of growing climate change risk to New Zealand’s rail infrastructure following a derailment.
2nd May 2023 KiwiRail / RailDisruption 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.
1st May 2023 KiwiRail / RailScenic train journeys on the Northern Explorer will be slower on trips between Wellington and Auckland from today.
15th March 2023 ALR / RailAuckland 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.
14th March 2023 KiwiRail / RailKiwiRail’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.
24th February 2023 RailWork on Auckland’s light rail project has begun this week, with the first of 30 bore holes being drilled in Sandringham.
16th February 2023 Ferry / RailMaritime 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.
13th February 2023 Perspectives / RailTrains in Aotearoa could help with decarbonisation as well as connecting people once again through tourism and intercity travel, write Robert McLachlan and Paul Callister.
23rd January 2023 Attractions / RailBay of Islands Vintage Railway will unveil its fully-restored steam train over the upcoming Anniversary Weekend.
19th January 2023 Auckland Transport / KiwiRail / RailAuckland’s rail network will shut down over the upcoming Anniversary Weekend, says KiwiRail.
28th September 2022 RailAuckland Light Rail and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have named preferred bidders for Auckland Light Rail and the additional Waitematā Harbour connections.
15th August 2022 RailThe Transport and Infrastructure Committee is seeking public feedback on the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand.
8th July 2022 Covid-19 / RailAuckland Transport is reducing the number of rail bus services as driver shortages and illness force the operator to reduce timetables.
13th June 2022 Rail / TGHTainui 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.
9th June 2022 KiwiRail / RailKiwiRail’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.
16th May 2022 Rail / TransportThe tender process has begun for two major Auckland projects: Auckland Light Rail and the Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections.
22nd March 2022 New Product / RailGlenbrook Vintage Railway will bring the second of its seven steam locomotives back online in the next month.
8th March 2022 Ferry / RailMarlborough District Council has approved a $110m loan to Port Marlborough to finance its share of the Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment.
3rd March 2022 RailWellington Railway Station has reopened today and rail services resumed after being suspended last night in response to the escalated protest action around Parliament.
25th January 2022 KiwiRail / RailAuckland’s rail network has fully re-opened after KiwiRail delivered a programme of works across the city during a temporary closure.
18th January 2022 Auckland Transport / RailAuckland One Rail has begun its partnership with Auckland Transport as the new passenger rail operator, replacing Transdev Auckland.
11th November 2021 RailThe weekday Te Huia passenger rail service will now run between Hamilton and Auckland’s central city The Strand Station.
29th October 2021 Rail / TransportPartly underground metro and tram options are being considered for the Auckland light rail link between the central city and the airport.
4th October 2021 RailA $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.
30th August 2021 RailThe 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.
26th July 2021 Coach / RailBus and rail services have recommenced at Puhinui Station in Papatoetoe after a $69m revamp.
20th July 2021 Rail / ToursA slew of new products has set up the railway for growth, with local businesses on board for the economic ride.
19th July 2021 PTG / RailThe first tour would hit the tracks in March 2022.
16th July 2021 PTG / RailHistoric steam train can now operate commercially on the 14km Kingston to Fairlight railway.
12th July 2021 RailSaturday trains operating at capacity on some services, according to Waikato regional councillor Hugh Vercoe.
8th July 2021 RailThe service has attracted criticism for low weekday passengers but Saturday services can be full.
