List of railway lines in New Zealand
The New Zealand railway network consists of four main lines, seven secondary lines and numerous short branch lines in almost every region. It links all major urban centres except Nelson, Taupo and Queenstown. The network is owned and managed by the New Zealand Railways Corporation, trading as KiwiRail. The network was constructed from 1863 onwards, mostly by government bodies, initially by the Provincial and later by central government (usually the Public Works Department). In 1993 New Zealand Rail Limited was privatised (and later renamed Tranz Rail), with the New Zealand Railways Corporation retaining the land (due to Treaty of Waitangi claims on land taken for railway construction). In 2003 the government renationalised the network. KiwiRail operates all freight and most passenger services, including Tranz Metro passenger trains in the Wellington region; Veolia operates MAXX suburban passenger trains in Auckland; the Taieri Gorge Railway operates tourist passenger trains in Dunedin.
[edit] New Zealand national rail network
[edit] Main trunk lines
| Name | Route | Length | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Island Main Trunk Railway | Wellington - Palmerston North - Taumarunui - Hamilton - Auckland | 681 km (423 mi) | Freight & Passenger |
| East Coast Main Trunk Railway | Hamilton - Tauranga - Kawerau | Freight only | |
| Main North Line | Christchurch - Kaikoura - Blenheim - Picton | 348 km (216 mi) | Freight & Passenger |
| Main South Line | Lyttelton - Christchurch - Timaru - Dunedin - Invercargill | 601 km (373 mi) | Freight & Passenger (Christchurch - Rolleston) Freight only (Lyttleton - Christchurch, Rolleston - Invercargill) |
The latter two lines are sometimes referred to as the South Island Main Trunk Railway
[edit] Secondary main lines
| Name | Route | Length | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marton - New Plymouth Line | Marton - Wanganui - Hawera - New Plymouth | Freight only | |
| Midland Line | Rolleston - Springfield - Arthurs Pass - Greymouth | 212 km (132 mi) | Freight & Passenger |
| North Auckland Line | Auckland - Waitakere - Helensville - Wellsford - Whangarei - Otiria | 281 km (175 mi) | Freight and Passenger south of Waitakere Train Station Freight only Waitakere to Otiria |
| Palmerston North - Gisborne Line | Palmerston North - Woodville - Waipukurau - Hastings - Napier - Gisborne | Freight only | |
| Stillwater - Westport Line | Stillwater - Reefton - Westport - Ngakawau | Freight only | |
| Stratford - Okahukura Line | Stratford - Whangamomona - Okahukura | 144 km (89 mi) | Mothballed |
| Wairarapa Line | Wellington - Upper Hutt - Masterton - Woodville | 176 km (109 mi) | Freight & Passenger Wellington to Masterton Freight only Masterton to Woodville |
[edit] Branch lines
[edit] Northland
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Dargaville Branch | Waiotira - Dargaville | Freight only |
| Donnellys Crossing Section | Dargaville - Kaihu - Donnellys Crossing | Closed 1959 |
| Kumeu-Riverhead Section | Kumeu - Riverhead | Closed 1885 |
| Okaihau Branch | Otiria - Kaikohe - Okaihau | Closed 1987 |
| Onerahi Branch | Whangarei - Onerahi | Closed 1933 |
| Opua Branch | Otiria - Kawakawa - Opua | Closed 1985 Kawakawa - Opua section operated by Bay of Islands Vintage Railway |
[edit] Auckland
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland - Newmarket Line | Auckland CBD - Newmarket | Freight & Passenger |
| Southdown Branch | Westfield Junction - Southdown Freight Centre | Freight only |
| Mission Bush Branch | Paerata - Mission Bush | Freight only |
| Onehunga Branch | Penrose - Onehunga | Passenger |
| Waiuku Branch | Glenbrook - Waiuku | Closed 1967 Now Glenbrook Vintage Railway |
[edit] Suburban rail lines
| Name | Route |
|---|---|
| Eastern Line | Britomart Transport Centre - Sylvia Park - Pukekohe North Island Main Trunk Line |
| Southern Line | Britomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Pukekohe Auckland - Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line, North Island Main Trunk Line |
| Western Line | Britomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Waitakere Auckland - Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line |
| Onehunga Line | Britomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Penrose - Onehunga Auckland - Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line, Onehunga Branch Line |
[edit] Waikato / Coromandel
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast Main Trunk | Frankton - Morrinsville - Paeroa - Waihi - Tauranga - Taneatua | Closed Paeroa to Apata, September, 1978. Waikino to Waihi reopened 8 November 1980 by Goldfields Railway. Hawken's Junction to Taneatua became Taneatua Branch. |
| Cambridge Branch | Ruakura - Hautapu - Cambridge | Freight only. Closed Hautapu - Cambridge 1999 |
| Glen Afton Branch | Closed, partially remains as the Bush Tramway Club's Pukemiro Line. Remainder became Rotowaro Branch | |
| Kimihia Branch | Freight only | |
| Rotowaro Branch | Freight only | |
| Thames Branch/Waitoa Industrial Line | Morrinsville - Waitoa - Paeroa - Thames | Morrinsville to Paeroa was a section of East Coast Main Trunk, 1928 to 1978. Freight only. Closed Waitoa - Thames 1991. Mothballed section between Morrinsville and Waitoa reopened 2004 as Waitoa Industrial Line. |
| Wilton Colleries Line | Closed, 1959 |
[edit] Bay of Plenty
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Kinleith Branch | Morrinsville - Kinleith Mill | Freight only |
| Mount Maunganui Branch | Freight only | |
| Murupara Branch | Freight only | |
| Rotorua Branch | Putaruru - Rotorua/Koutu | Mothballed |
| Taneatua Branch | Mothballed | |
| Whakatane Industrial Line | Awakeri - Whakatane mill | Closed |
[edit] Gisborne - Hawke's Bay
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Napier Port Branch/Ahuriri Branch | Freight only | |
| Moutohora Branch | Gisborne - Makaraka - Moutohora | Freight only. Closed Makaraka - Moutohora 1959 |
| Ngatapa Branch | Gisborne - Ngatapa | Closed 1931 |
[edit] Central North Island
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Raetihi Branch | Ohakune - Raetihi | Closed 1968 |
[edit] Taranaki
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Castlecliff Branch | Wanganui - Castlecliff | Freight only. Mothballed 2006. Reopened 2010. |
| Opunake Brance/Kapuni Branch | Eltham - Kapuni - Opunake | Freight only. Closed Kapuni - Opunake |
| Mount Egmont Branch | Closed | |
| Waitara Branch | Lepperton - Waitara | Closed 1999 Now operated by the Waitara Rail Preservation Society |
| Wanganui Branch | Aramoho - Wanganui | Freight only |
[edit] Manawatu
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Foxton Branch | Longburn - Foxton | Closed 1959 |
| Taonui Branch | Taonui - near Colyton | Closed 1895 |
[edit] Wairarapa
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Greytown Branch | Woodside Junction - Greytown | Closed 1953 |
[edit] Wellington
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Gracefield Branch | Woburn - Hutt Workshops - Gracefield | Freight only. Hutt Workshops - Gracefield mothballed 2002 |
| Johnsonville Branch | Wellington - Johnsonville | Passenger only. Former North Island Main Trunk Line |
| Melling Branch | Petone - Melling | Passenger only. Former Wairarapa Line |
| Te Aro Branch | Lambton - Te Aro | Closed 1917 |
[edit] Suburban rail lines
| Name | Route |
|---|---|
| Johnsonville Line | Wellington - Johnsonville Johnsonville Branch |
| Kapiti Line | Wellington - Waikanae North Island Main Trunk Line |
| Hutt Valley Line | Wellington - Upper Hutt Wairarapa Line |
| Melling Line | Wellington - Melling Wairarapa Line, Melling Branch |
| Wairarapa Connection | Wellington - Masterton Wairarapa Line |
[edit] Nelson
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson Section | Nelson - Kawatiri | Isolated from South Island network. Closed 1955 |
[edit] Westland
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Blackball Branch | Closed 1966 | |
| Cape Foulwind Railway | Westport, New Zealand - Cape Foulwind | Closed 1930 |
| Conns Creek Branch | Waimangaroa - Denniston, New Zealand | Closed 1967 |
| Hokitika Branch/Ross Branch | Greymouth - Hokitika - Ross | Freight only. Closed Hokitika - Ross 1980 |
| Ngakawau Branch/Seddonville Branch | Westport - Ngakawau - Seddonville - Mokihinui Mine | Freight only. Closed Seddonville - Mokihinui Mine 1974, Ngakawau - Seddonville 1981 |
| Rapahoe Branch | Greymouth - Rapahoe | Freight only |
| Rewanui Branch | Greymouth - Rewanui | Closed 1985 |
[edit] Canterbury
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Eyreton Branch | Kaiapoi - Wetheral - Horrelville - Bennetts Junction | Closed Horrelville - Bennetts Junction 1931, Wetheral - Horrelville 1954, Kaiapoi - Wetheral 1965 |
| Fairlie Branch | Washdyke - Eversley | Closed 1968 Pleasant Point section operatred by Pleasant Point Museum and Railway Proposed Fairlie Rail Trail |
| Ferrymead Branch | Christchurch - Ferrymead | Closed 1868 Now Ferrymead Railway |
| Hornby Industrial Line/Southbridge Branch | Hornby - Prebbleton - Lincoln - Southbridge | Freight only. Closed Lincoln - Southbridge 1962, Prebbleton - Lincoln 1967 |
| Little River Branch | Lincoln - Little River | Closed 1962 Now Little River Rail Trail |
| Methven Branch | Rakaia - Methven | Closed 1976 |
| Mount Somers Branch/Springburn Branch | Tinwald - Mount Somers - Springburn | Closed Mount Somers - Springburn 1957, Tinwald - Mount Somers 1968 Tinwald - Frasers Road section operated by Plains Vintage Railway |
| Oxford Branch | Rangiora - Oxford - Sheffield | Closed Oxford - Sheffield 1930, Rangiora - Oxford 1959 |
| Waiau Branch | Waipara - Waiau | Closed 1978 Waipara - Waikari section operated by Weka Pass Railway |
| Waimate Branch/Waimate Gorge Branch | Studholme - Waimate - Waihao Downs | Closed Waimate - Waihao Downs 1953, Studholme - Waimate 1966 |
| Whitecliffs Branch | Darfield - Whitecliffs | Closed 1962 |
[edit] Otago / Southland
| Name | Route | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Balfour Branch/Waimea Plains Railway | Gore - Balfour - Lumsden | Closed Gore - Balfour 1971, Lumsden - Balfour 1978 |
| Bluff Branch | Invercargill - Bluff | Freight only |
| Browns Branch/Hedgehope Branch | Winton - Browns - Hedgehope | Closed Browns - Hedgehope 1953, Winton - Browns 1968 |
| Catlins River Branch | Balclutha - Tahakopa | Closed 1971 |
| Dunback and Makareao Branches | Palmerston - Inch Valley - Dunback/Makareao | Closed Inch Valley - Dunback 1968, Palmerston - Makareao 1989 |
| Fernhill Branch | Closed 1930, 1995 | |
| Kingston Branch | Invercargill - Makarewa - Kingston | Closed Kingston - Fairlight section operated by Kingston Flyer Ltd, Invercargill - Makarewa section now part of Wairio Branch |
| Kurow Branch/Hakataramea Branch | Pukeuri - Kurow - Hakataramea | Closed Kurow - Hakataramea 1930, Pukeuri - Kurow 1983 |
| Moeraki Branch | Hillgrove - Moeraki | Closed 1879 |
| Mossburn Branch | Lumsden - Mossburn | Closed 1982 |
| Ngapara and Tokarahi Branches | Waiareka Junction - Windsor Junction - Ngapara/Tokarahi | Closed Windsor Junction - Tokarahi 1930, Taylor's Siding - Ngapara 1959, Waiareka Junction - Taylor's Siding 1997 |
| Otago Central Railway | Wingatui - Middlemarch - Clyde - Cromwell | Passenger only. Closed Clyde - Cromwell 1980, Middlemarch - Clyde 1990 Wingatui - Middlemarch section operated by Taieri Gorge Railway, Middlemarch - Clyde section now Otago Central Rail Trail |
| Outram Branch | Mosgiel - Outram | Closed 1953 |
| Port Chalmers Branch | Sawyers Bay - Port Chalmers | Freight only |
| Riverton Branch/Tuatapere Branch/Orawia Branch | Makarewa - Thornbury - Riverton - Tuatapere - Orawia | Closed Tuatapere - Orawia 1970, Riverton - Tuatapere 1976, Thornbury - Riverton 1978 Makarewa - Thornbury section now part of Wairio Branch |
| Roxburgh Branch | Milton - Lawrence - Roxburgh | Closed 1968 |
| Shag Point Branch | Shag Point - Shag Point Coal Mine | Closed 1934 |
| Tapanui Branch | Waipahi - Tapanui - Heriot - Edievale | Closed Heriot - Edievale 1968, Waipahi - Heriot 1978 |
| Tokanui (or Seaward Bush) Branch | Invercargill - Tokanui | Closed 1966 |
| Waikaia Branch | Riversdale - Waikaia | Closed 1959 |
| Waikaka Branch | McNab - Waikaka | Closed 1962 |
| Wairio Branch/Ohai Industrial Line | Invercargill - Makarewa - Thornbury - Wairio - Ohai | Freight only |
| Walton Park Branch | Burnside - Walton Park | Closed 1957 |
| Wyndham Branch | Edendale - Wyndham - Glenham | Closed Wyndham - Glenham 1930, Edendale - Wyndham 1962 |
[edit] Private lines
Parts of the network were constructed by private companies, and most were unsuccessful. All except the Whakatane Board Mills line and the Sanson Tramway were later acquired by the government. The most successful was the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, which operated between Wellington and Longburn (near Palmerston North) from 1885 to 1908. After the WMR, perhaps the best-known private railway was the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, which constructed parts of the Midland, Nelson and some West Coast lines. After the company was dissolved in 1900 the railway lines and their construction were taken over by the government. Some lines were also built by companies for access such as to coal mines, and by local government bodies.
- Cape Foulwind Branch
- Castlecliff Railway
- Fernhill Branch
- Hutt Park Railway
- Kaitangata Line
- Kurow Branch (Duntroon - Hakataramea portion)
- Methven Branch
- Mokai Tramway (TTT Co line) (Putaruru to Mokai near Lake Taupo)
- New Zealand Midland Railway Company Limited
- Ohai Railway Board
- Port Chalmers Railway Company Limited
- Riccarton Racecourse Siding
- Sanson Tramway
- Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company
- Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company Limited
- Waimate Gorge Branch
- Waimea Plains Railway
- Whakatane Board Mills Line
- Wilton Colleries Line
[edit] Significant proposals
Many railway lines have been proposed, especially in the 19th century, but never constructed. Some proposals have been particularly significant due to their extent, publicity, or how close they came to being realised (in some cases, the track bed was built). Some significant proposals include:
- Avondale - Southdown line (land corridor owned by KiwiRail)
- Canterbury Interior Main Line
- Connection of the Catlins River Branch and the Tokanui Branch
- Connection of the East Coast Main Trunk with the Palmerston North - Gisborne line
- Culverden - Reefton line
- Culverden to Tophouse, with branches from there to Nelson and Blenheim
- Dunedin Peninsula and Ocean Beach railway extension to Portobello and Taiaroa Heads.
- Extension of the Nelson Section through the Buller Gorge to the West Coast
- Fairlie Branch - extension 27 km beyond Eversley, proposals to terminate the line in Burkes Pass
- Gisborne - Rotorua line via Te Teko
- Haywards - Plimmerton line
- Kakahi - Pūkawa (Lake Taupo) line
- Kingston Branch - extension to Queenstown
- Kirikopuni - Kaikohe line
- Kurow Branch - extension beyond Hakataramea
- Little River Branch - extension to Akaroa
- Marsden Point Branch and its Waipu precursor
- Manukau Branch - from the NIMT to Manukau City centre (now under construction 2010)
- Martinborough Branch
- Mossburn Branch - extension to Te Anau
- Nelson - Blenheim line
- Okaihau Branch - extension to Rangiahua and Kaitaia
- Onehunga Branch - extension to Auckland Airport
- Opunake Branch - sub-branch from Kapuni to Manaia; extension to New Plymouth
- Otago Central Railway - extension to Wanaka
- Paengaroa - Rotorua line
- Pokeno - Paeroa line
- Sockburn-Styx deviation
- Roxburgh Branch - connection from Roxburgh to the Otago Central Railway in Alexandra
- Taupo Railway Proposals - connections from Rotorua, Kinleith or Murupara branches
- Te Aro Extension - extension to Island Bay
- Waiau Branch - extension to Kaikoura
- Waimate Branch - extension of the Waihao Downs line
- Wainuiomata Branch - from the Wairarapa Line in the Hutt Valley
[edit] Bush tramways
These were lines principally constructed to haul timber or minerals, often in isolated areas. A variety of gauges was used, including the NZ standard 1067 mm (3'6"). Typical bush trams were more lightly constructed than ordinary rail lines and had steeper gradients and sharper curves also. With the low speeds that were commonplace, rolling stock and locomotives were generally built to lighter standards than mainline vehicles. It was not uncommon for road vehicles to be adapted for use on the trams, either as haulage power or rolling stock. As road vehicles became more suited for these operations the trams gradually faded away and none are now operating.
A prominent example of a bush tramway was the Taupo Totara Timber Company's line between Putaruru and Mokai, and an example of a mineral tramway was the Dun Mountain Railway.
[edit] Street tramways
Major street tramway networks were constructed in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with smaller operations in Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Nelson and Invercargill. Employing horse, steam or electric power, they operated in most cases until the 1950s when improved buses saw most of the tracks scrapped. Christchurch is the only city still with an urban tram operation, constructed from scratch in the late 1990s as a tourism venture. See Trams in New Zealand.
[edit] Heritage railways
A large number of societies operate working heritage railway lines and museums. Most of these are run largely or wholly by volunteer labour, except the Taieri Gorge Railway in Dunedin, which employs paid staff.
