New Zealand - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
Note: as a trial: Obscure services and Sparse services sections merged (though there were none of the latter); withdrawn services moved to Deletions section.
Obscure or Sparse services
South Island
Port Chalmers (lower) – Sawyers Bay [ – Dunedin] NZ01
The 2km branch into the docks at Port Chalmers (a section of the original Dunedin & Port Chalmers Railway) is used by Dunedin Railways specials in connection with visiting cruise liners at Dunedin, to provide ship-side train access. For current scheduled cruise calls see Port Otago's website. Report updated: May 2022
Invercargill - Wingatui [ - Dunedin - Sawyers Bay - ] Merton - Rolleston NZ04
The Main South line between Wingatui (junction for Taieri Gorge line) and Merton is used by regular Dunedin Railways services. In the past, rail tours to traverse the whole line between Invercargill and Rolleston (the line north thereof has regular passenger service) have been offered by Dunedin Railways and by Marlborough Flyer: enquire of those operators for possible future such trips. Report updated: March 2024
North Island
Auckland, Quay Park Junction (Strand station) NZ54
The third side of the triangle at Quay Park Junction has no regular through service but it and its associated platform are used by diesel and steam hauled trains, which are not allowed to use Waitematā (formerly Britomart) station. These include the Northern Explorer Auckland ⇔ Wellington trains - see KiwiRail's web site, Te Huia Hamilton (Frankton Junction) ⇔ Auckland trains - see Te Huia's web site, and steam excursions. When engineering work at Waitematā intervenes local trains may use Strand instead; such diversions appear on Auckland Transport's future works webpage. Report updated: July 2024
Newmarket (Auckland) triangle NZ55
Where the Auckland-Newmarket Line joins the North Auckland (West) Line to Swanson is a full running triangle. All services ⇔ the West Line are normally booked to reverse at Newmarket station, so none uses the direct curve to the West Line. However, when engineering work at Newmarket intervenes trains may use the direct curve; such diversions appear on Auckland Transport's future works webpage. For major sports events at Eden Park, extra trains between Waitematā (formerly Britomart) and Kingsland use this curve when not advertised to call at Newmarket - visit Auckland Transport's events webpages and check Temporary Train Timetables. Report updated: August 2024
Various freight lines NZ56
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust, Steam Incorporated and Glenbrook Vintage Railway operate tours when advertised on their websites. Report updated: March 2024
[Waiuku - ] Glenbrook - Paerata Junction NZ57
Glenbrook Vintage Railway operate their regular heritage service between Glenbrook and Waiuku, but occasionally operate special trains through to the Kiwi Rail main line at Paerata (10.95km), as advertised (2024 dates included 31 August, 21 September). Reported: August 2024
Deletions
South Island
[Dunedin – ] Pukerangi – Middlemarch NZ02
Service withdrawn. Dunedin Railways currently run between Dunedin and Pukerangi. Updated: January 2025.
Historical notes: the furthest 18.8 km of the remaining section of the Otago Central line beyond Pukerangi was traversed by the Taieri Gorge Limited service only on some Sundays in March and April, operated by Dunedin Railways; however Dunedin Railways ceased all operations in April 2020. From 20 December 2020 until 28 March 2021 a Sundays only service operated between Dunedin and Hindon, short of Pukerangi.
Lyttelton – Christchurch, Addington West Junction NZ03
Service withdrawn. Report updated: April 2024
Historical notes: this 14 km section of the Main South Line had been used by specials to Arthur's Pass in connection with visiting cruise liners at Lyttelton, to provide ship-side train access. However, the number of visiting vessels reduced after the earthquake in 2011. While cruise calls resumed post-Covid, the port declined to say whether connecting rail service would resume - the new berth (opened 25 November 2020) is not rail connected. Also, reportedly, the tunnel on the route is no longer permitted to be used by passenger trains.
North Island
Hamilton (Frankton Junction) – Te Puna – Tauranga – Mount Maunganui - Hauone NZ51
Service withdrawn.
[Palmerston North, Milson Junction – ] Woodville – Mangatainoka NZ52
Service withdrawn.
Palmerston North, Milson Junction – Woodville – Napier – Wairoa – Muriwai – Gisborne NZ53
Service withdrawn. Report updated: June 2020.
Historical notes: the line was severed by serious washouts in the section Opoutama – Beach Loop during the last week in March 2012, and the section beyond Napier was formally "mothballed". The Gisborne City Vintage Railway operate on the isolated section between Gisborne and Muriwai (16.7 km).
