Central North Island towns out of loop on rail services
7 Apr, 2021 06:21 PM
5 minutes to read
The only passenger trains stopping at Te Kuiti these days are excursions by Glenbrook vintage railway. Photo / King Country News.
The only passenger trains stopping at Te Kuiti these days are excursions by Glenbrook vintage railway. Photo / King Country News.
Andy is a Local Democracy reporter
Faint hope is being held for any resumption of Central North Island commuter passenger services in the near future.
Passenger trains stopped calling at Te Kuiti and Taumarunui in 2012 when KiwiRail changed its business model to focus on trains for tourists instead of commuters.
Faint hope for former main trunk stops abandoned by KiwiRail
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Central North Island towns out of loop on rail services
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The Northern Explorer runs between Auckland and Wellington.
On track again this month after its Covid-19 suspension, the Northern Explorer is once more delighting travellers on its route between Auckland and Wellington. The oldest passenger train service in the country, it calls in at Palmerston North, Ohakune, National Park and Hamilton; but these days it’s much more about the experience than just getting from A to W. The carriages have picture windows that arch up onto the roof, the reclining seats are big and comfortable, there’s a commentary available through supplied headsets and the licensed dining car serves delicious Wishbone food and drinks.
Scott Hammond/Stuff
Former New Zealand rail engineer for 25 years, Picton man Glenn Howard launched a petition to reduce coastal pacific train fares between Christchurch and Picton. In less than a week, over 300 people commented on Howard’s post online and asked to join the petition. Some said that cheaper fares would encourage more people to use the train and at the same time, take cars off the road. “This petition has one of Marlborough s most important interests at heart for our province: affordable rail fares for our local families.” Howard said he will take the petition to Parliament. A KiwiRail spokesperson said their pricing was linked to demand, much like airline pricing.