KiwiRail’s new North Island train service, which will begin service in the middle of this year, has been given a new name – Northern Explorer.

KiwiRail apologises for the widespread disruption on the Auckland rail network this afternoon caused by a  power outage in its National Train Control Centre in Wellington.

KiwiRail is making changes to the train service between Wellington and Auckland to transform the service into an internationally recognised tourism product. The Overlander currently runs a daily service during summer months and three days a week during winter using carriages that are up to 60 years old.  The new service, which will be rebranded and will use new purpose built carriages, is planned to begin operation on Monday 25 June.

From 11 May to 11 September, KiwiRail’s Coastal Pacific train service between Christchurch and Picton will operate a reduced winter timetable. The return service will run on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only, which are typically the most popular days for travel.

As a result of extensive mechanical issues with the English Electric trains that operate on the Johnsonville line and customer calls for more service consistency, a decision has been made by Greater Wellington Regional Council and Tranz Metro to use a combination of trains and express bus services in the morning peak to assist with reduced capacity on trains until Matangi are introduced on the line on Monday 19 March.

KiwiRail's Tranz Metro has posted a new record for the number of people carried on the network in one weekend having transported 46,972 passengers to and from Wellington for the Rugby World Cup quarter final weekend.

KiwiRail's Tranz Scenic has today confirmed there will be a fare increase for the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington effective 1 November 2011.

As a result of staff illness and training commitments for a number of our Locomotive Engineers, Tranz Metro wishes to advise that there will be a temporary peak timetable this afternoon in order to get passengers to their destination with as little disruption as possible.

Due to the Rail and Maritime Transport Union Wellington branch holding their Annual General Meeting, train services on Tuesday 9 August will be reduced to hourly between 11am-3pm on all lines. Updated timetable information is available on the TranzMetro website (www.tranzmetro.co.nz).

When KiwiRail's Tranz Scenic passenger service between Christchurch and Picton resumes on 15 August, it will run under a new name - Coastal Pacific, the name the train was given in the early stages of its inception.

From Monday 7 March, the iconic TranzAlpine train will begin running between Christchurch and Greymouth.

KiwiRail staff are working to re-open the Johnsonville Line after it was closed by a derailment at Ngaio Station early this afternoon.

The Overlander train journey is back from time out during the Christmas rail upgrade with a sellout first day, KiwiRail has announced.

KiwiRail's engineering work in Wellington over the summer holiday period has largely been completed, with passenger train services returning to Paraparaumu on Monday (10 January 2011).

Media Advisory
23 December 2010

KiwiRail media contacts over holiday period