List of railway lines in New Zealand

The railway network in New Zealand 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, Queenstown, Whakatane and (since 2012) Gisborne. The network is owned and managed by KiwiRail. The network was constructed from 1863 onwards, mostly by government bodies, initially provincial governments and later 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 a small number of passenger services primarily for tourists on certain routes in both islands; Transdev operates Auckland Transport 'AT Metro' suburban passenger trains in Auckland and Metlink passenger trains in the Wellington region; Dunedin Railways (formerly Taieri Gorge Railway) operates tourist passenger trains in Dunedin.

New Zealand national rail network

North Island rail network map (as of 2006)
South Island rail network map (as of 2006)

Lines in bold type are currently operated by KiwiRail

Main trunk lines

NameRouteLengthUsage
North Island Main TrunkWellington - Palmerston North - Taumarunui - Hamilton - Auckland681 km (423 mi)Freight & passenger
East Coast Main TrunkHamilton - Morrinsville - Kaimai Tunnel - Tauranga - KawerauFreight only
Midland LineRolleston - Springfield - Arthur's Pass - Stillwater - Greymouth212 km (131 mi)Freight & passenger
Main North LineChristchurch - Kaikoura - Blenheim - Picton348 km (216 mi)Freight & passenger
Main South LineLyttelton - Christchurch - Timaru - Dunedin - Invercargill601 km (373 mi)Freight & passenger (Christchurch - Rolleston)
Freight only (Lyttelton - Christchurch, Rolleston - Invercargill)

The last two lines are sometimes referred to as the South Island Main Trunk Railway.

Secondary main lines

NameRouteLengthUsage
Marton - New Plymouth LineMarton - Wanganui - Hawera - New PlymouthFreight only
North Auckland LineAuckland - Swanson - Waitakere - Helensville - Wellsford - Whangarei - Otiria281 km (175 mi)Freight and Passengers south of Swanson
Freight only Swanson to Otiria
Palmerston North - Gisborne LinePalmerston North - Woodville - Waipukurau - Hastings - Napier - Muriwai - GisborneFreight & Passenger(charter/cruise). Mothballed: Napier to Muriwai 2012. Open: Muriwai to Gisborne, leased by Gisborne Vintage Railway from June 2013[1][2]
Stillwater Ngakawau LineStillwater - Reefton - Westport - NgakawauFreight only
Stratford–Okahukura LineStratford - Whangamomona - Okahukura144 km (89 mi)Passenger: leased to a private operator June 2012.
Wairarapa LineWellington - Upper Hutt - Masterton - Woodville176 km (109 mi)Freight & Passenger Wellington to Masterton
Freight only Masterton to Woodville

Branch lines

Northland

NameRouteUsage
Dargaville BranchWaiotira - DargavilleFreight only
Donnellys Crossing SectionDargaville - Kaihu - Donnellys CrossingClosed 1959
Kumeu-Riverhead SectionKumeu - RiverheadClosed 1885
Okaihau BranchOtiria - Kaikohe - OkaihauClosed 1987
Onerahi BranchWhangarei - OnerahiClosed 1933
Opua BranchOtiria - Kawakawa - OpuaClosed 1985
Kawakawa - Taumarere operated by Bay of Islands Vintage Railway

Auckland

NameRouteUsage
Newmarket LineQuay Park junction - NewmarketFreight & passenger
Southdown BranchWestfield Junction - Southdown Freight CentreFreight only
Mission Bush BranchPaerata - Glenbrook - Mission BushFreight only
Onehunga BranchPenrose - OnehungaPassenger
Manukau BranchWiri - ManukauPassenger
Waiuku BranchGlenbrook - WaiukuClosed 1967
Now Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Suburban passenger rail lines
Auckland suburban rail network (in 2005)
NameRoute
Eastern LineBritomart Transport Centre - Glen Innes - Manukau
North Island Main Trunk Line, Manukau Branch
Southern LineBritomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Papakura - Pukekohe
Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line, North Island Main Trunk Line
Western LineBritomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Swanson
Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line
Onehunga LineBritomart Transport Centre - Newmarket - Penrose - Onehunga
Newmarket Line, North Auckland Line, Onehunga Branch

Waikato / Coromandel

NameRouteUsage
East Coast Main Trunk Original sections from PaeroaFrankton - Morrinsville - Paeroa - Waihi - Tauranga - TaneatuaClosed Paeroa to Apata, September 1978. Waikino to Waihi reopened 8 November 1980 by Goldfields Railway. Hawkens Junction to Taneatua became Taneatua Branch.
Cambridge BranchRuakura - Hautapu - CambridgeFreight only. Closed Hautapu - Cambridge 1999
Glen Afton BranchClosed, partially remains as the Bush Tramway Club's Pukemiro Line. Remainder became Rotowaro Branch
Kimihia BranchCoal only
Rotowaro BranchCoal only
Thames Branch/Waitoa BranchMorrinsville - Waitoa - Paeroa - ThamesMorrinsville to Paeroa part of East Coast Main Trunk, 1928 to 1978. Freight only. Closed Waitoa - Thames 1991. Mothballed Morrinsville to Waitoa, reopened 2004 as Waitoa Branch.
Wilton Collieries LineNgaruawahiaClosed, 1958 (Line owned by NZ Mines Dept, operated by NZR after 1940)

Bay of Plenty

NameRouteUsage
Kinleith BranchWaharoa - Kinleith MillFreight only
Mount Maunganui BranchFreight only
Murupara BranchFreight only
Rotorua BranchPutaruru - Rotorua/KoutuLeased to a Private Operator, 2010
Taneatua BranchMothballed 2003
Whakatane Board Mills LineAwakeri - Whakatane millClosed 2003

Gisborne - Hawke's Bay

NameRouteUsage
Napier Port Branch/Ahuriri BranchFreight only
Moutohora BranchGisborne - Makaraka - MoutohoraFreight only. Closed Makaraka - Moutohora 1959, Makaraka - Gisborne mothballed 2012.
Ngatapa BranchGisborne - NgatapaClosed 1931

Central North Island

NameRouteUsage
Raetihi BranchOhakune - RaetihiClosed 1968

Taranaki

NameRouteUsage
Castlecliff BranchWanganui - CastlecliffFreight only.
Opunake Branch/Kapuni BranchEltham - Kapuni - OpunakeFreight only. Closed Kapuni - Opunake
Mount Egmont BranchClosed
Waitara BranchLepperton - WaitaraClosed 1999. Leased to private operator.
Waitara Railway Preservation Society
Wanganui BranchAramoho - WanganuiFreight only

Manawatu

NameRouteUsage
Foxton BranchLongburn - FoxtonClosed 1959
Taonui BranchTaonui - near ColytonClosed 1895

Wairarapa

NameRouteUsage
Greytown BranchWoodside - GreytownClosed 1953

Wellington

NameRouteUsage
Gracefield BranchWoburn - Hutt Workshops - GracefieldFreight only. Hutt Workshops - Gracefield mothballed 2002
Johnsonville LineWellington - JohnsonvillePassenger only. Former North Island Main Trunk Line
Melling BranchPetone - MellingPassenger only. Former Wairarapa Line
Te Aro BranchLambton - Te AroClosed 1917
Suburban rail lines
Wellington suburban rail network (in 2006)
NameRoute
Johnsonville LineWellington - Johnsonville
Johnsonville Line
Kapiti LineWellington - Waikanae
North Island Main Trunk Line
Hutt Valley LineWellington - Upper Hutt
Wairarapa Line
Melling LineWellington - Melling
Wairarapa Line, Melling Branch
Wairarapa LineWellington - Masterton
Wairarapa Line

Nelson

NameRouteUsage
Nelson SectionNelson - KawatiriIsolated from South Island network. Closed 1955

Westland

NameRouteUsage
Blackball BranchClosed 1966
Cape Foulwind RailwayWestport, New Zealand - Cape FoulwindClosed 1930
Conns Creek BranchWaimangaroa - Denniston, New ZealandClosed 1967
Hokitika Branch/Ross BranchGreymouth - Hokitika - RossFreight only. Closed Hokitika - Ross 1980
Ngakawau Branch/Seddonville BranchWestport - Ngakawau - Seddonville - Mokihinui MineFreight only. Closed Seddonville - Mokihinui Mine 1974, Ngakawau - Seddonville 1981
Rapahoe BranchGreymouth - RapahoeFreight only
Rewanui BranchGreymouth - RewanuiClosed 1985

Canterbury

NameRouteUsage
Eyreton BranchKaiapoi - Wetheral - Horrelville - Bennetts JunctionClosed Horrelville - Bennetts Junction 1931, Wetheral - Horrelville 1954, Kaiapoi - Wetheral 1965
Fairlie BranchWashdyke - EversleyClosed 1968
Pleasant Point section operatred by Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
Proposed Fairlie Rail Trail
Ferrymead BranchChristchurch - FerrymeadClosed 1868
Now Ferrymead Railway
Hornby Industrial Line/Southbridge BranchHornby - Prebbleton - Lincoln - SouthbridgeFreight only. Closed Lincoln - Southbridge 1962, Prebbleton - Lincoln 1967, mothballed 2012.
Little River BranchLincoln - Little RiverClosed 1962
Now Little River Rail Trail
Methven BranchRakaia - MethvenClosed 1976
Mount Somers Branch/Springburn BranchTinwald - Mount Somers - SpringburnClosed Mount Somers - Springburn 1957, Tinwald - Mount Somers 1968
Tinwald - Frasers Road section operated by Plains Vintage Railway
Oxford BranchRangiora - Oxford - SheffieldClosed Oxford - Sheffield 1930, Rangiora - Oxford 1959
Waiau BranchWaipara - WaiauClosed 1978
Waipara - Waikari section operated by Weka Pass Railway
Waimate Branch/Waimate Gorge BranchStudholme - Waimate - Waihao DownsClosed Waimate - Waihao Downs 1953, Studholme - Waimate 1966
Whitecliffs BranchDarfield - WhitecliffsClosed 1962

Otago

NameRouteUsage
Catlins River BranchBalclutha - Finegand - TahakopaFreight only, Closed 1971 beyond Finegand
Dunback and Makareao BranchesPalmerston - Inch Valley - Dunback/MakareaoClosed Inch Valley - Dunback 1968, Palmerston - Makareao 1989
Fernhill BranchAbbotsford - FernhillClosed 2003
Kingston BranchKingston - FairlightPassenger only - Kingston Flyer Ltd.
Kurow Branch/Hakataramea BranchPukeuri - Kurow - HakatarameaClosed Kurow - Hakataramea 1930, Pukeuri - Kurow 1983
Moeraki BranchHillgrove - MoerakiClosed 1879
Ngapara and Tokarahi BranchesWaiareka Junction - Windsor Junction - Ngapara/TokarahiClosed Windsor Junction - Tokarahi 1930, Taylor's Siding - Ngapara 1959, Waiareka Junction - Taylor's Siding 1997
Ocean Beach RailwayDunedin - Forbury ParkClosed beyond Gas works and Andersons Bay Rd warehousing 1942. Closed as far as Strathallan Road level crossing 1990. One rail shared with DCC Tramways and electrified 1908 along Royal Crescent.
Otago Central RailwayWingatui - Middlemarch - Clyde - CromwellPassenger only beyond Taieri. Closed Clyde - Cromwell 1980, Middlemarch - Clyde 1990
Taieri - Middlemarch operated by Dunedin Railways, Middlemarch - Clyde now Otago Central Rail Trail
Outram BranchMosgiel - OutramClosed 1953 beyond Woollen Mills private siding, remainder closed 1990
Port Chalmers BranchSawyers Bay - Port ChalmersFreight only
Roxburgh BranchMilton - Lawrence - RoxburghClosed 1968
Shag Point BranchShag Point - Shag Point Coal MineClosed 1934
Tapanui BranchWaipahi - Tapanui - Heriot - EdievaleClosed Heriot - Edievale 1968, Waipahi - Heriot 1978
Walton Park BranchBurnside - Walton ParkClosed 1957

Southland

NameRouteUsage
Balfour Branch/Waimea Plains RailwayGore - Balfour - LumsdenClosed Gore - Balfour 1971, Lumsden - Balfour 1978
Bluff BranchInvercargill - BluffStandard gauge 1435mm, 1866 to 1875. Freight only
Browns Branch/Hedgehope BranchWinton - Browns - HedgehopeClosed Browns - Hedgehope 1953, Winton - Browns 1968
Kingston BranchInvercargill - Makarewa - Fairlight - KingstonClosed completely 1982 except:
Kingston - Fairlight (Otago) operated by Kingston Flyer Ltd, Invercargill - Makarewa part of Wairio Branch
Mokomoko Harbour BranchAwarua - Mokomoko HarbourClosed 1875, Standard gauge 1435mm from 1866, connected to Bluff Branch
Mossburn BranchLumsden - MossburnClosed 1982
Riverton Branch/Tuatapere Branch/Orawia BranchMakarewa - Thornbury - Riverton - Tuatapere - OrawiaClosed Tuatapere - Orawia 1970, Riverton - Tuatapere 1976, Thornbury - Riverton 1978
Makarewa - Thornbury part of Wairio Branch
Tokanui (or Seaward Bush) BranchInvercargill - TokanuiClosed 1966
Waikaia BranchRiversdale - WaikaiaClosed 1959
Waikaka BranchMcNab - WaikakaClosed 1962
Wairio Branch/Ohai Industrial LineInvercargill - Makarewa - Thornbury - Wairio - Nightcaps - OhaiFreight only, mothballed beyond Nightcaps
Wyndham BranchEdendale - Wyndham - GlenhamClosed Wyndham - Glenham 1930, Edendale - Wyndham 1962

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 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 built by companies for access such as to coal mines, and by local government bodies.

Significant proposals

Many railway lines have been proposed, especially in the 19th century, but never constructed. An 1873 map indicated that it was intended to link up all the current and authorised routes into a national network.[3] 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:

See also Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, 23 August 1910, Page 5 for a list of railways authorised, proposed and under construction, with estimated cost of completing them as at April 1, 1910, many of which were not built.

Nelson - Blenheim notional railway

The Nelson - Blenheim notional railway was created in November 1957 to help manage the political backlash from the 1955 closure of the isolated Nelson Section. State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim was deemed by law to be an NZR railway for the purposes of calculating passenger and freight rates between railway stations in the South Island and Nelson or other places on the notional railway. Passengers and freight travelled by road, with the difference between the road carrier's rates and railway rates subsidised by the government. Rail rates were significantly cheaper than road rates, so the scheme provided significant benefits to its users, while imposing significant costs on the government. The scheme lasted for 22 years, being withdrawn in October 1977.

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. With the low speeds that were commonplace, rolling stock and locomotives were generally built to lighter standards than main-line vehicles. It was not uncommon for road vehicles to be adapted, 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.

Other bush and mineral tramways included -

North Island

NameRouteUsage
Piha Tramway
Smyth Brothers' Tramway Kennedy's Bay, Coromandel Peninsula 1897-1908 3ft
Piako County Tramway Kaimai Range 1884-1924 2ft 9in
Ellis and Burnand Tramway Ongarue 1922-1958
Knight's tram Raurimu
Makatote Tramway
Taringamotu Tramway
Price's Bush Tramway Hutt Valley to Waikanae

South Island

NameRouteUsage
Bell Hill mill tramway
Koranui Incline
Mount Somers Tramway 1886-1963
tramways linking to Ross Branch
Kokiri Tramway
Fortification sawmill tramway
Port Craig tramway Port Craig, Percy Burn Viaduct, Wairaurahiri River 1919-1928 Marlborough Timber Co

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. Urban tram operations, built from scratch as tourist attractions, have more recently been restarted in Christchurch (1995) Auckland (2011), and Wanganui (2013). See Trams in New Zealand.

Heritage and Private 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 commercially operated private trust owned Dunedin Railways in Dunedin, which employs paid staff.

References

  1. New Zealand Railway Observer, June/July 2013 Edition
  2. "KiwiRail to mothball Napier-Gisborne line". Kiwirail.co.nz. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. "Sketch map of the Colony of New Zealand shewing authorised and proposed railway lines". National Library. Department of Lands and Survey. 1873.
  4. Hendery, Simon (9 March 2017). "Cape tourist rail project". Southland Times.
  5. "Papers Past — Evening Post — 13 Hereturikōkā 1907 — RAILWAY ROUTE". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1907-08-13. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  6. "Papers Past — Nelson Evening Mail — 11 November 1886 — THE MOTUEKA-TADMOII RAILWAY ROUTE". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  7. "New Zealand : Anno Tricesimo Victoriae Reginae : No. 33" (PDF). Nzlii.org. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  8. "Papers Past — Marlborough Express — 2 July 1913 — THE WAIRAU VALLEY RAILWAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1913-07-02. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  9. "Papers Past — Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle — 4 Hōngongoi 1867 — WESTPORT AND CHARLESTON RAILWAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
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