56-607: The Capital Connection is a long-distance commuter train operated by KiwiRail between Palmerston North and the capital city of Wellington on the North Island Main Trunk . In 2018, the service faced funding issues, but the Government ensured that the service would continue, with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA, otherwise known as Waka Kotahi) and regional councils investing in subsidies and
112-646: A $ 40 million allocation to KiwiRail from the PGF. In 2019, the government began a "Future of Rail" review, and in December 2019 released a draft New Zealand Rail Plan, outlining changes it proposed making to the rail transport industry and KiwiRail specifically. The draft plan proposes a number of major changes, the most significant being future funding of the rail network through the National Land Transport Fund, and charging rail operators to use
168-533: A Whanganui – Palmerston North train service akin to this inter-regional proposal. The service's rolling stock was refurbished in 2022/2023 at the Hutt Workshops. The carriages left the workshop on 22 February 2023 for Palmerston North. The new set includes six S class coaches, refurbished in a Suburban Regional (SR) style similar to Te Huia (including SR5968), and a refurbished baggage carriage (AG176). The service began using standard NZR 56-foot carriages :
224-404: A base track access fee but left future track access fees open to negotiation between ONTRACK and Toll. After several years of negotiations, the two parties could not come to an agreement on the amount that Toll should pay. On 1 July 2008, the government announced the purchase for $ 690 million of Toll Rail, the rail and ferry assets of Toll NZ, but not its trucking operation, which continued under
280-563: A congested road. In August 2012 Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons ( Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council) proposed a business case for a subsidy which was evaluated by NZTA. The business case argued that: In March 2013, the Member of Parliament for Palmerston North , Iain Lees-Galloway , presented a petition of 2,000 signatures supporting the service at a parliamentary select committee hearing. In May 2014 he said that he
336-607: A decision on the service in August 2012. Patronage dropped by 26,000 trips per annum (from 185,472 trips in the 2008–09 financial year to 159,641 in the 2011–12 financial year.) The Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Horowhenua District Council proposed partial funding but needed the NZTA to agree to continue the service. NZTA's public transport funding criteria require that a service must reduce traffic on
392-501: A former Endeavour car with luggage space at one end and a former Picton – Greymouth car, both from on the Masterton commuter run, were refurbished for the service. Later still, up to five more Masterton cars, a Northerner car, the second Northerner catering car and the sole InterCity spare buffet car saw service. Before these carriages were replaced, the service was regularly running with a van and eight cars. On Monday 15 November 1999,
448-639: A joint venture with the Northland Regional Council to build a branch line (the Marsden Point Branch ) to connect to Northport at Marsden Point. Anchor freight customers: Key anchor customers include Fonterra, Westland Dairy Products (Rolleston and Hokitika), Bathurst resources and the various freight forwarders including Mainfreight and port companies including Port of Tauranga. Freight wagons: KiwiRail operates 4,855 wagons . An additional 120 wagons were acquired in
504-406: A larger fleet of trains and updated stations. The Plan states that buses may be able to connect regional towns to this upgraded service. A detailed business case is being created to analyse any improvements. The Horizons Plan also noted that KiwiRail is investigating an inter-regional connector service, which would connect districts to urban services. Horizons note that there is opportunity to create
560-437: A new train entered service, made up of seven (later eight) British Rail Mark 2 cars and the second former Southerner modular 11 kW power and baggage van, with 90 kW generator and larger luggage space made up from the middle and expanded non-handbrake end compartments. The new cars are about three metres longer than the older cars and more spacious inside, with more headroom, full air-conditioning, 60 seats per car (28 in
616-476: A position he held until 1 July 2010. Bolger's government had privatised New Zealand Rail Limited in 1993. A number of commentators, including Winston Peters , view this as ironic. In response, Bolger acknowledged his involvement in privatising New Zealand Rail, remarking that "my life is full of ironies," and added that "the world has changed." In 2011, KiwiRail proposed splitting its land and rail corridor assets from its rail operation assets. On 27 June 2012 it
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#1732775702159672-486: A subsidy for the service for another three years. KiwiRail Scenic Journeys said there would be maintenance and repairs for each of the carriages, at staggered intervals over the next 12 months, to improve the service. In 2016, it was reported patronage on the service had increased for the first time in three years. Proposals to improve the service have been made throughout the train's life. This includes one by Palmerston North City Councillor Chris Teo-Sherrell to terminate
728-1361: A total of 17 rail freight depots. In the North Island, these are Whangārei , Auckland, Hamilton , Tauranga, New Plymouth, Napier, Whanganui , Palmerston North , Masterton and Wellington . In the South Island they are Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Inland Ports : KiwiRail serves a number of Inland Port yards, although does not own the tracks. These include Conlinxx (Wiri), Midland Port (Rolleston), Longburn International Freight Hub (Longburn, Palmerston North), Manawatu Inland Port (Palmerston North), MetroPort (Southdown in Auckland and Rolleston in Christchurch) and will include Ruakura (Hamilton) when it opens in 2019, and Ports of Auckland's site at Horotiu in Hamilton. Sea Ports : KiwiRail has major freight yards and sidings at Lyttelton port Company ( containers , logs , coal ), Port Chalmers (containers), Southport (Bluff), Timaru, Port of Tauranga (Mt Maunganui and Sulphur Point), Ports of Auckland, CentrePort (Wellington) , Port of Napier and New Plymouth. KiwiRail also has
784-513: Is a major land owner in New Zealand, and manages over 18 thousand hectares of land, has in excess of 1,500 property assets with a combined value of over $ 965 million (Annual Report 2016). Increasingly, KiwiRail is pursuing a commercial approach to asset management, and in the 2016 financial year received over $ 18 million from property sales. Re-branded along with Interislander as the single brand The Great Journeys of New Zealand in 2017, it
840-401: Is currently, as of January 2022, unclear what direction KiwiRail intends to take, Project Restart suggests a shift to multi-day land-cruises, a form of Experiential tourism . This decision, or potential decision, has been seen by many New Zealand-based transport advocacy groups as an abandonment of interregional rail by KiwiRail. Campaign for Better Transport described it as the "latest stage in
896-543: Is now experiencing rapid double-digit annual growth, due to the growth of Chinese tourism to New Zealand, so much so that KiwiRail in 2017 may purchase an additional eight carriages to the 17 AK carriages purchased in 2012. In 2021, following a decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, KiwiRail announced the suspension of the Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer as part of Project Restart '22. While it
952-523: Is responsible for consists of: The Engineering division provides mechanical assistance to the Freight and Passenger businesses, as well as to Auckland Transport. Engineering maintains, refurbishes and occasionally builds rolling stock for the network. In 2012, KiwiRail announced it was putting its Hillside Engineering division on the market. and subsequently sold part of the division and transferred remaining work to Hutt workshops. KiwiRail now operates
1008-507: Is the company's largest business unit, making up the majority of KiwiRail's revenue with $ 390 million in the financial year ended July 2016. In the same year, KiwiRail moved around 18 million tonnes of freight and carried about 16% of New Zealand's total freight task (tonnes-km). Traffic grew from 2017 to 2019, dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and largely recovered in 2022. Freight types: Timber and dairy products formed 60% of
1064-542: Is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand . KiwiRail has business units of KiwiRail Freight, Great Journeys New Zealand and Interislander . The company was formed in 2008 when the government renationalised above-rail operations (having previously renationalised the network in 2004) and inter-island ferry operations, then owned by Toll Holdings. In 2021, the government launched the New Zealand Rail Plan, with funding for rail projects to come from
1120-555: Is the long-distance passenger transport subsidiary of KiwiRail, operating the Northern Explorer , TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific . The passenger trains are predominantly patronised by tourists to NZ, with the exception of the Capital Connection, which is a commuter train. In 2012, KiwiRail attempted to sell Tranz Scenic , but was unsuccessful, and KiwiRail continues to run these services. The division
1176-473: Is the regional council overseeing the Wellington Region of New Zealand's lower North Island . It is responsible for public transport under the brand Metlink, environmental and flood protection, and the region's water supply. As of 2023, it is the majority owner of CentrePort Wellington with a 77% shareholding. The Wellington Regional Council was first formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of
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#17327757021591232-564: The 2017 budget the government announced a further $ 450 million in capital funding for KiwiRail, and that the company's operations would be placed under another major review, believed to relate to future funding models. The $ 450 million was earmarked for repairs following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and for further locomotive and rolling stock purchases. As part of the Turnaround Plan's agenda to standardise locomotives and wagons, in 2016 KiwiRail announced it would effectively switch off
1288-508: The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) proposed replacing the Capital Connection and Wairarapa Connection trains with 15 four-car bi-mode multiple units by 2025. These trains are estimated to cost $ 415 million. The "infrastructure spendup" announced on 30 January 2020 included some upgrading of the present rolling stock but not the proposed hybrid trains (see New Zealand Upgrade Programme ). For
1344-551: The Hutt Workshops in the Hutt Valley of Wellington , along with a number of small wagon maintenance depots, for example, at Addington (Christchurch) and Frankton. Most rail operations are a 'there and back' service with motive power being held in a few key strategic locations. Motive power stabling yards are as follows: Some of the more prominent rail facilities used by KiwiRail include: The table below lists only
1400-577: The Kapiti Line as far as Levin was pushed for by transport minister Michael Wood ; adding an extra 35 km to the line to (or past) Ōtaki. In 2023 it was announced that 18 four-car trains will be built for Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa lines. KiwiRail KiwiRail Holdings Limited is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise (SOE) responsible for rail operations in New Zealand and operates inter-island ferries. Trading as KiwiRail and headquartered at 604 Great South Road, Ellerslie , KiwiRail
1456-411: The Kapiti Line services were extended north from Paraparaumu to Waikanae , the Capital Connection would lose passengers. In 2010, KiwiRail stated it would consider changes after evaluating what impact the metro system has on the Capital Connection's patronage. The extension to Waikanae was opened in 2011. By July 2012 the future of the service seemed to be very uncertain. KiwiRail announced it would make
1512-700: The Wairarapa Connection service. Suburban rail passenger operations in Auckland and Wellington are contracted by their respective local governments and not operated by KiwiRail. In Auckland rolling stock is owned by Auckland Transport which has contracted operation to Auckland One Rail , while in Wellington rolling stock is owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council which has contracted operation to Transdev Wellington. The KiwiRail Infrastructure and Engineering division, formerly known as ONTRACK, has three main areas of operation: The network it
1568-702: The Auckland Suburban network have been relocated from storage in Tauramanui. They are currently being refurbished to a similar design of the new Te Huia Hamilton to Auckland train under the Upgrade New Zealand Programme. The 12 refurbished carriages will enter service in 2022. with component delivery delays, now mid 2023. A near complete and painted overhauled carriage SR6010 was shown to journalists. The S cars have now been withdrawn from service. The S class consist of carriages
1624-662: The Governments energy and emissions policies, and while the government is also actively considering extending the North Island electrification for the first time since the 1980s. KiwiRail has made use of the Government's Provincial Growth Fund (PGF). In 2019 KiwiRail signed an agreement with the New Zealand Transport Agency , Palmerston North City Council to construct a road, rail and air distribution centre in Palmerston North , following
1680-487: The NIMT electrification in late 2017 and replace the electric locomotives with an additional eight DL locomotives (additional to the 15 as reported in the 2016 Annual Report). On 30 October 2018 that capital funding was made available to by the new Labour-led Coalition government to refurbish 15 of the surviving 20 EF locomotives at the Hutt Workshops extending the service life by 10 years for their continued use, in line with
1736-624: The National Land Transport Fund (NLTF), and with KiwiRail remaining an SOE but paying Track Access Charges (TACs) to use the network. Prior to the establishment of KiwiRail, rail transport in New Zealand has been under both public and private ownership. Government operators included the Public Works Department (1873–1880), New Zealand Railways Department (1880–1982), and the New Zealand Railways Corporation (1982–1990). New Zealand Rail Limited
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1792-644: The Palmerston North-Wellington Capital Connection and the SR class carriages, which KiwiRail owns and leases for the Te Huia Hamilton to Auckland regional service. Twelve carriages are also being overhauled to replace the current S class carriages and will be deployed in two sets of six. Greater Wellington Regional Council Wellington Regional Council , branded as Greater Wellington Regional Council ,
1848-512: The Toll brand. The new company was named KiwiRail and launched on 1 October 2008 at a ceremony at Wellington railway station. The New Zealand Railways Corporation then owned both KiwiRail and ONTRACK, with both companies merging to create one company that controls both rail and ferry operations and rail infrastructure. Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger became the first chair of the KiwiRail board,
1904-482: The contract to supply 57 new locomotives for KiwiRail. Stadler Rail stated the contract was worth 228 million Euros, or NZD $ 403 million. The 2022 budget allocated $ 661.5 million to KiwiRail, with $ 312.3 million for improving the national rail network and $ 349.2 million for completing the replacement of "ageing" locomotives and freight wagons, including up to 29 new light-duty locomotives. The total government investment increases to $ 8.6 billion. KiwiRail Freight
1960-475: The current locomotives in service with KiwiRail. The majority of passenger carriages in New Zealand are now owned by Auckland Transport , Greater Wellington Regional Council and Dunedin Railways . KiwiRail operates a small fleet of New Zealand built AK class carriages for long-distance passenger trains and heavily rebuilt former British Mark 2 carriages in several configurations, the S class carriages for
2016-405: The decline of what was once an extensive passenger rail service which serviced most of New Zealand". An announcement is expected by July 2022. Until 2016, KiwiRail division Tranz Metro had the contract to operate the Wellington services but lost a bid to renew this contract in 2015. KiwiRail is sub-contracted by Transdev Wellington to provide and operate the diesel locomotives required to haul
2072-612: The first of two power-baggage vans from the Bay Express, a 50-seat Southerner car, a 42-seat Northerner car and a 37-seat Northerner catering car. When the Northerner and Southerner cars were returned to their respective trains and patronage continued to increase a former Masterton commuter car was refurbished to the same standard, with the same 50 alcove-style seats as the Southerner car, but with sheepskin seat covers. Later,
2128-668: The following points: Two of KiwiRail's major customers, Mainfreight and Fonterra , invested heavily in rail-related infrastructure in line with the Turnaround Plan. Mainfreight has allocated $ 60 million for investment in new railhead depots, while Fonterra has invested $ 130 million in a new rail hub complex in Hamilton and another in Mosgiel . The plan has had mixed success, with company Chairman John Spencer stating in 2013 that for its first three years, rail freight revenue had increased by over 25%. Similar progress in attaining new customers and increasing freight volumes has been made over
2184-637: The functions of the Wellington Regional Planning Authority with those of the Wellington Regional Water Board , before taking its current form with the local government reforms of 1989 . A proposal made in 2013 that nine territorial authorities amalgamate to form a single supercity met substantial local opposition and was abandoned in June 2015. The governing body of the regional council
2240-502: The future of KiwiRail's regional passenger rail services, the Capital Connection and Te Huia (2022) see: The 2021–2031 Horizons Regional Land Transport Plan recognised the importance of the service to the region and the environment. It also stated that the service, carriages and locomotives would need to be upgraded if it was to continue operating past 2025. The Plan also provides for higher frequency of trains, utilising
2296-536: The government in 2001). The rail network then came under the New Zealand Railways Corporation (trading as ONTRACK). As part of this acquisition, Toll agreed to pay ONTRACK "Track Access Charges" (TACs) in exchange for exclusive network access for 66 years, subject to a "use it or lose it clause": if freight and passenger volumes fell below their 2002-2004 average for three or more years, Toll would lose its exclusive access. The agreement set
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2352-471: The life of the Plan to date (other than with coal). Steady and at times rapid progress has been made on the enabling parts of the Turnaround Plan, such as new locomotives and wagons, lengthening of the rail ferry and track destressing, but not always effectively. The 10 Year Turnaround Plan was quickly undermined by a series of adverse events, including: Partially as a response to the events outlined above, in
2408-420: The morning, returning in the evening. The service stops at 5 stations within the Wellington and Manawatū-Whanganui regions. On Sunday 19 June 1994, a weekend service from Palmerston North to Wellington and return started. The power/baggage van, catering car and 50-seat (alcove-style with tables) day car (ex Masterton) made up the consist. It attracted minimal patronage and was withdrawn later that year. In 2019,
2464-419: The partial sale of Tranz Scenic (the long-distance passenger division of Tranz Rail), the company sought to separate its commercial passenger rail operations from its subsidised services (which remained in Wellington under Tranz Metro), operation of the train was transferred to Tranz Scenic. KiwiRail is the current operator of the service. The train operates Monday to Friday from Palmerston North to Wellington in
2520-482: The rail network via Track Access Charges. A number of other projects are proposed under the draft plan. They include a new train control centre in Auckland, replacing two Interislander ferries and rolling stock. On 17 March 2020 KiwiRail released a tender for the supply of new mainline locomotives. 2021 New Zealand budget allocated NZD $ 722.7 million to purchase new mainline locomotives, shunt locomotives and wagons. In October 2021, Stadler Rail announced it had won
2576-564: The replenishment of rolling stock. The modernisation and replacement of the service has been included in Horizons' 2021–2031 Regional Land Transport Plan. The service would be replaced by a modern and more frequent service with a larger train fleet. The service started on Monday 15 April 1991 as the Cityrail Express , with "Cityrail EXPRESS Palmerston North – Wellington" emblazoned on carriage sides. Concerns were raised that once
2632-540: The servery car), and twin power sockets at the foot of each pair of seats. Seating arrangement is both alcove and airline-style, using their British Rail InterCity 72 seats. Since October 2016, fire suppressed DFB class locomotives have been assigned to the service. They have been repainted from Tranz Scenic standard "Cato blue" into Capital Connection livery. The S cars made their last journey to Palmerston North on 28 July 2023. The SR carriages took over from Monday 31st. 12 former Maxx / Auckland Transport SA class used on
2688-527: The service in Waikanae to connect to the Kapiti Tranz Metro services, and another by Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith to double the daily frequency. Neither of these proposals were adopted. From 1991, the train was operated by New Zealand Rail suburban passenger division CityRail, which was re-branded Tranz Metro in 1995 when New Zealand Rail itself was rebranded Tranz Rail . In 2001, with
2744-625: The single brand The Great Journeys of New Zealand in 2017, The Interislander is the company's second largest business unit. It operates ferry services across Cook Strait between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island . In the financial year 2012, $ 123.9M of KiwiRail's revenue came from the Interislander, with the majority of the Interislander's revenue coming from rail and road freight transport. KiwiRail
2800-410: The tonnage moved in 2022. Bulk commodities include coal, logs, milk ( dry and wet ), IMEX (import/export intermodal) and domestic intermodal freight . Formerly large scale freight types such as petroleum products have entirely been withdrawn, and fertilizer has almost disappeared. The freight trading revenue by sector, as per the December 2016 Half Year Report is: Rail freight depots : KiwiRail has
2856-526: The year ending 2016, with over 1,000 new wagons added since 2008. One of KiwiRail's stated aims is to progressively move towards standardized wagons, with the container flat-top being overwhelmingly the dominant type (carrying curtain sided swap bodies , liquid containers , Log cradles and so on to meet almost all freight tasks). The Norwegian coupling is progressively being replaced with semi-automatic Janney coupler on all wagons. Key freight routes: Re-branded along with KiwiRail Scenic Journeys as
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#17327757021592912-417: The years following. In support of the turn-around plan, from July 2008 to December 2016 KiwiRail received over $ 2.1 billion of Crown investment, which was mostly spent on infrastructure and new rolling stock. The focus of the Plan is to increase rail traffic volumes, revenue and productivity, modernise assets and separate out the commercial elements of the business from the non-commercial. The plan included
2968-430: Was announced by the company that the value of the land and rail operations would be written down from NZ$ 7.8 billion to $ 1.3 billion, and KiwiRail would continue as the rail and ferry operator, while the New Zealand Railways Corporation would manage KiwiRail's land. The de-merger took effect on 31 December 2012. In 2010 KiwiRail released a 10-year turnaround plan and significant government investment in support of this in
3024-564: Was not surprised at the drop in patronage following a fare rise. In April 2013, KiwiRail said to keep the service operating, it would have increased ticket prices by 40 percent, and have at least 61 passengers on board in each direction. But it only increased fares by 10% from May. On 1 July 2015, KiwiRail confirmed, that funding had been approved by Horizons Regional Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council signing off their Long Term plans, including
3080-461: Was retired 30 July 2023 and replaced the next day by SR class on the Capital Connection. In 2019, the GWRC proposed replacing in 2025 the Capital Connection and Wairarapa Connection trains with 15 four-car dual-mode multiple units , to operate from overhead power from Wellington to Upper Hutt or an on-board power source north of Upper Hutt; to cost $ 415 million. In 2022 a business case for extending
3136-504: Was split off from the Railways Corporation (which continued to own the land beneath the rail network) in 1990, privatised in 1993 and then renamed in 1995 to Tranz Rail . In 2004 Tranz Rail's rail, ferry and trucking operations were acquired by Toll Holdings and renamed Toll NZ , with the central government buying back the rail network outside of Auckland for $ 1 (the Auckland metro rail network had already been purchased by
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