Great Journeys New Zealand (original) (raw)

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Tourism division of KiwiRail

"InterCity Rail" redirects here. For the railway service, see Inter-city rail.

Great Journeys New Zealand
Formerly KiwiRail Scenic JourneysTranz ScenicInterCity Rail
Company type Brand
Industry Rail transport in New Zealand
Founded 2017
Headquarters Wellington, New Zealand
Area served New Zealand
Services Long-distance passenger trains
Parent KiwiRail (2017–present)
Website https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/

KiwiRail passenger trains

Northern Explorer

Capital Connection

Coastal Pacific

TranzAlpine

Great Journeys New Zealand is the tourism division of KiwiRail that operate its three Scenic train services (TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific). The new division was launched in May 2017 and replaced the former tourism brand KiwiRail Scenic Journeys.[1] It has continuity with the earlier InterCity Rail (1987–1995) and Tranz Scenic (1995–2011).

Former logo of Tranz Scenic, 1995–2011.

Passenger trains in New Zealand were operated by the New Zealand Railways Department from 1880 to 1981, alongside private rail operators such as the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. The Department was corporatised as the New Zealand Railways Corporation (NZRC) in 1982, and later reorganised as a state-owned enterprise in 1986. A consulting study commissioned by the NZRC and carried out by Booz Allen Hamilton recommended re-orientation of long-distance passenger services toward tourist operations.[2]

The Fourth Labour Government passed the New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990 on 28 August of that year.[3] Two months later, on 28 October 1990, the New Zealand government removed core rail transport and shipping operations from the New Zealand Railways Corporation, creating a separate entity called New Zealand Rail Limited, a Crown Transferee company created under the Act. New Zealand Rail Limited's long-distance passenger trains carried the InterCity Rail branding. New Zealand Rail Limited was privatised and sold to a consortium named TranzRail Holdings Limited in 1993 and changed its name to Tranz Rail in 1995. As part of the rebranding exercise, InterCity Rail was renamed Tranz Scenic.

Tranz Scenic (2001) Ltd

[edit]

As part of a restructuring programme, in November 2001 Tranz Scenic was incorporated as stand-alone subsidiary Tranz Scenic (2001) Limited. Tranz Rail then sold 50% of Tranz Scenic for $33 million to Donald Gibson and Gary McDonald, who were also directors of Australian rail operator West Coast Railway.[4][5] The sale included long-distance passenger rolling stock and ten diesel locomotives of the DC class (reclassified DCP), and two EF class electric locomotives. Tranz Rail intended to sell the remaining 50% share in Tranz Scenic, but this sale never eventuated.[6] West Coast Rail withdrew several long-distance trains that were not profitable, retaining the routes that had sufficient passenger numbers (see below).

Tranz Rail was taken over by Australian transport firm Toll Holdings in 2003. The company was renamed Toll NZ and did not retain any of the Tranz Rail directors. In July 2004 the 50% share of Tranz Scenic was purchased by Toll, as one of the West Coast Railway directors had died and the business was not performing adequately.[7] In May 2008 the New Zealand Government agreed to buy the rail and sea transport assets of Toll NZ Limited for $665 million.[8] The government branded the new company KiwiRail.

Former logo of The Great Journeys of New Zealand, 2017–2022.

In 2011, KiwiRail developed a new brand of passenger trains geared toward the increasing tourism industry in New Zealand. The new brand, named KiwiRail Scenic Journeys, was launched with new AK-class carriages designed to showcase New Zealand's scenery,[9] as well as providing long-distance passenger train services. During the transformation, the TranzCoastal train was rebranded as the Coastal Pacific and the Overlander became the Northern Explorer; whereas the TranzAlpine's name was retained.

In July 2012, it was revealed that KiwiRail was considering selling the remaining services.[10] No buyers were found and the long-distance passenger services remain operated by KiwiRail Scenic Journeys.

Meanwhile, KiwiRail's ferry brand, Interislander, was building on its core business taking vehicles and freight across Cook Strait and looking to promote the trip as an iconic tourism experience and a scenic alternative to flying.

In 2017, KiwiRail decided to bring its rail and ferry operations together under one brand, The Great Journeys of New Zealand, which offers a connected passenger service throughout New Zealand, from Auckland to Greymouth, via train and ferry. The division is now experiencing rapid double-digit annual growth, due to the growth of Chinese tourism to New Zealand, leading KiwiRail to announce that it may purchase eight AK-class carriages to add to the seventeen purchased in 2010.[11]

In 2021, KiwiRail announced the suspension two of its three services, the Northern Explorer and the Coastal Pacific. KiwiRail restarted the services from September 2022.[12]

The Northern Explorer about to depart from Wellington railway station with new AK class carriages.

DCP 4761 in Tranz Scenic livery hauling the TranzAlpine.

The Great Journeys of New Zealand operates three Scenic train services:

Line Frequency (each way) Calling at Notes
Coastal Pacific See notes Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Kaikōura, Waipara, Rangiora, Christchurch Thursdays to Sundays, then daily 2 February to 30 April 2023. It then next runs on 21 September 2023.[13] Suspended from November 2016 to December 2018 as a result of significant line damage from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake[14] and in 2022 due to COVID.[15]
Northern Explorer Daily (see Notes) Auckland Strand, Papakura, Hamilton, Ōtorohanga, National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Wellington Service reinstated recently.[16] Runs southbound from Auckland on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays. Runs northbound from Wellington on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There is no service on Tuesdays.
The Southerner see notes Christchurch, Rolleston, Dunedin Limited running in May 2025.[17]
TranzAlpine Daily Christchurch, Rolleston, Darfield, Springfield, Arthur's Pass, Otira, Moana, Kokiri, Greymouth

Capital Connection was also previously part of KiwiRail Scenic Journeys.

KiwiRail trialled excursions with its refurbished Silver Fern railcar to destinations including Napier and on the now mothballed Gisborne line as part of its Explore By Rail trips. Other Silver Fern tours included a Queen's Birthday day tour to Napier, tours to the Tui brewery via the Manawatū Gorge, an Easter Weekend trip to Gisborne, Valentine's Weekend and ANZAC Weekend tours to the central North Island. These excursions have been discontinued as of 2017.

Cook Strait ferries

[edit]

Three Cook Strait passenger ferries operate under the brand Interislander:

Image Name Built Entered service Capacity Notes
Passengers Road Rail
DEV Aratere 1998 1999 600 + 31 crew 1050 lane metres 420 lane metres (32 wagons) Numbers are post 2011 modifications.
MS Kaiarahi 1998 2015 550 1900 none built 1998 as Dawn Merchant; chartered temporarily by Interislander in 2014 as Stena Alegra while Aratere was out of service, then chartered long-term in 2015 and renamed Kaiarahi
MV Kaitaki 1994 2005 1350 + 60 crew 1780 lane metres (550 cars) none built 1994 as Isle of Innisfree; chartered by Interislander in 2005 as Challenger; renamed Kaitaki 2007

KiwiRail Scenic Journeys's former Capital Connection train is not included in the Great Journeys of New Zealand brand. It is, however, operated by KiwiRail and subsidised by the Greater Wellington Regional Council as a long-distance commuter train.[18]

New AK class carriages on the Coastal Pacific at Picton.

In March 2009, the New Zealand Government confirmed funding of NZ$39.9 million for 17 AK Class carriages for the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific. The class are the first passenger carriages to be designed and built in New Zealand for many years and were built at KiwiRail's Hillside Workshops in Dunedin, with three cars entering service on the Coastal Pacific on 2 November 2011.[19]

Further AK carriages were deployed on the new Northern Explorer and The TranzAlpine. The Capital Connection uses 1970s built British Rail Mark 2 carriages, refurbished in New Zealand as the S Class.

The Overlander hauled by an EF class electric locomotive near Waiouru on the North Island Main Trunk.

The Tranz Scenic brand and blue livery has been replaced by white KiwiRail livery with the introduction of AK carriages on the Coastal Pacific, TranzAlpine and Northern Explorer.[20]

In 2004, Tranz Scenic withdrew the Northerner overnight Auckland – Wellington service, citing poor patronage. This was the last overnight service in New Zealand. Tranz Scenic also reduced the number of stations served by The Overlander service on the North Island Main Trunk.

In April 2006, Toll NZ announced that it was proposing to sell its two South Island trains,[21] the TranzAlpine and the TranzCoastal. In July the end of The Overlander service was announced, but after significant protest and an increase in patronage (due to the publicity) the service continued, operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during winter and daily in high summer. In 2009 a resumption of seven-day-a-week operation was announced, a result of increasing passenger numbers.

However, the Overlander ceased operations in 2012, being superseded by the Northern Explorer service, again on limited days of the week.

  1. ^ "The Great Journeys of New Zealand launch". Scoop Independent News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ Stott, Bob (1984). "Booz Allen report in summary". Rails: 217.
  3. ^ "New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990". Government of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Auckland rail deal clinched". The New Zealand Herald. 24 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Clarification From Connex Re: TranzScenic". Scoop. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Behind-the-scenes action at Tranz Scenic". Rails. October 2002. ISSN 0110-6155.
  7. ^ "Toll NZ buys back Tranz Scenic passenger services". 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Rail buy back marks new sustainable transport era". 5 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  9. ^ "On Board Our Trains". Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Opposition parties criticise TranzScenic plans". Radio New Zealand. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  11. ^ "KiwiRail may spend $50M on new carriages". 7 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Even Greater Journeys for 2022!". Great Journeys of New Zealand. April 2022. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Coastal Pacific Train". Great Journeys NZ. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Kaikoura earthquake rips through New Zealand". The Great Journeys of New Zealand. 19 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Project Restart '22". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Northern Explorer Train". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Southerner to make short comeback in 2025". www.thepress.co.nz. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Regional Transport Committee 07 March 2017 PASSENGER RAIL WORKING PARTY UPDATE" (PDF). Horizons Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  19. ^ Palmer, Kloe (3 November 2011). "New carriages debut on South-Island's rails". Christchurch: 3 News. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  20. ^ "Auckland Trains – New Tranz Carriage Look". Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Tranz Alpine journey up for grabs". One News. 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2011.