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KiwiRail Stories

Kiwi Stories

KiwiRail stories

Kicking the can down the road as Te Huia gets thrown a lifeline
Auckland Transport

Kicking the can down the road as Te Huia gets thrown a lifeline

A year’s reprieve gives the Hamilton–Auckland train until 2027 to lift patronage, or risk losing its funding once the trial ends.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Sat, 14th Mar 2026
Why not rail
Supply Chain

Why not rail

Rail’s economic case is growing, but deferred upgrades and an ageing workforce threaten reliable services and future freight gains.

By Staff Writer • 7 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
Kiwi Rail asked to tighten its belt
KiwiRail

Kiwi Rail asked to tighten its belt

Commuter and freight reliability in Auckland and Wellington is being prioritised as KiwiRail trims spending by USD $200 million over three years.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Tue, 11th Nov 2025
Milestone for rail joint venture
Power / Energy

Milestone for rail joint venture

Passengers on the Manawatū and Wairarapa lines will see services doubled from 2030 as Greater Wellington orders 18 battery-electric trains.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Sun, 2nd Nov 2025
Is KiwiRail going back to the bad old days?
KiwiRail

Is KiwiRail going back to the bad old days?

Secondary rail lines across New Zealand face slower maintenance and more speed restrictions under KiwiRail’s latest plan, alarming South Island operators.

By Staff Writer • 8 min read • Thu, 3rd Apr 2025
Public infrastructure lacking in transparency
Auckland Council

Public infrastructure lacking in transparency

A lack of disclosure on New Zealand’s big projects is obscuring costs, designs and accountability, critics say, as billions are spent in secret.

By Staff Writer • 8 min read • Tue, 15th Oct 2024
Report released on KiwiRail train derailment
Climate change

Report released on KiwiRail train derailment

The derailment exposed gaps in KiwiRail's flood-response planning and training after 11 wagons came off the track near Te Puke in 2023.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Fri, 21st Jun 2024
Budget 2024 delivers ‘healthy’ rail investment
Supply Chain

Budget 2024 delivers ‘healthy’ rail investment

KiwiRail says the Budget 2024 top-up will ease maintenance backlogs and improve reliability for commuters and freight customers across New Zealand.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Thu, 30th May 2024
Is the Te Huia train hitting its KPIs?
Ministry for the Environment

Is the Te Huia train hitting its KPIs?

Patronage is rising and subsidy dependence is easing, bolstering the case for keeping the Auckland-Hamilton service running beyond its trial.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Tue, 30th Apr 2024
Ashburton’s new freight hub to move trucks off highway
Supply Chain

Ashburton’s new freight hub to move trucks off highway

The hub is expected to take 40,000 truck movements a year off Mid Canterbury roads and cut freight emissions by 70%.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read • Fri, 26th Apr 2024
Could a bridge or tunnel work across the Cook Strait?
Supply Chain

Could a bridge or tunnel work across the Cook Strait?

A fixed link could cut the crossing to 40 minutes, but a Cook Strait tunnel would cost about NZD $50 billion and stretch funding to breaking point.

By Staff Writer • 11 min read • Wed, 14th Feb 2024
Dumping one Road of National Significance would pay for fast inter-city rail
Productivity

Dumping one Road of National Significance would pay for fast inter-city rail

Hourly Auckland-Hamilton rail could be built for the cost of one highway project, the commentator says, with freight also benefiting.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Fri, 19th Jan 2024
Future of freight transport dead in the water
Supply Chain

Future of freight transport dead in the water

Rail freight between New Zealand's islands faces fresh strain after the Government scrapped the Interisland Project IREX, alarming exporters and ports.

By Staff Writer • 23 min read • Tue, 19th Dec 2023
Train misses bus by metres
KiwiRail

Train misses bus by metres

TAIC says the near miss exposed gaps in KiwiRail procedures, after a bus crossed 12 metres ahead of a locomotive in Christchurch.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Fri, 20th Oct 2023
$60m inland port welcomes first freight trains
Supply Chain

$60m inland port welcomes first freight trains

The new Hamilton facility could cut cargo costs by up to 30% and shift Upper North Island freight off roads and onto rail.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Fri, 4th Aug 2023
Te Huia train fails to stop — is its ban from Auckland justified?
Auckland Transport

Te Huia train fails to stop — is its ban from Auckland justified?

Passengers heading into Auckland now face a Papakura transfer after Te Huia was barred from the electrified network following two red-signal incidents.

By Staff Writer • 12 min read • Sun, 16th Jul 2023
New trains to sit idle 94% of the time
Wellington Regional Council

New trains to sit idle 94% of the time

Passengers could see little benefit from the refurbished Capital Connection fleet, which is expected to be idle most of the time without new services.

By Staff Writer • 8 min read • Mon, 12th Jun 2023
Future of inter-regional train travel in New Zealand
Hybrid & Remote Work

Future of inter-regional train travel in New Zealand

Passengers could miss out unless new inter-regional rail is funded sustainably, as Infrastructure New Zealand urges a focus on maintenance and existing metro upgrades.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Fri, 28th Oct 2022
KiwiRail buys ferry for $8.6m in leadup to Christmas
Supply Chain

KiwiRail buys ferry for $8.6m in leadup to Christmas

Additional Cook Strait freight capacity is secured for the pre-Christmas rush after KiwiRail exercised an option to buy Valentine for GBP £8.6 million.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Sun, 11th Sep 2022