Waitakere Tramline and NZ Regional Trains

07/08/2024

A great time of the year to check out this NZ icon. With the transition from Winter to Spring there's the chance of snow around Arthur's Pass and snow capped Southern Alps and cherry blossum trees along the way.

The TranzAlpine is New Zealand's most famous train, crossing the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Greymouth on the West Coast. Find out whether the train l...

20/07/2024

Another Rata has fallen. Sadly one of Waitakere Tramline members John Gurney passed away in Queenstown on Tuesday 16th July at 6.45 am after his battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving partner Claire and Bonnie his daughter. Our hearfelt sympathies go out to them.
John was involved with many worthwhile enterprises listed below.
Once owner of a motorcycle shop Nth Shore.
Amsol oil agent.
Rainforest Express Senior locomotive driver employed by Watercare
Waitakere Tramline Society member , HSE , rails maintenance advisor, GM .
Health and Safety case writer for private railways.
Construction Extraordinaire for private railways ( Stelvio Construction) including

The Great Martinborough Wood Railway lower N. Island.
Reconstruction, management and operator of The Denniston Incline Experience working alongside with DOC .
Family links with Kingston Flyer ( his daughter Bonnie was stationmaster at Fairlight...thx for the amazing footplate trip if Bonny reads this!)
Manager of Driving Creek Railways (after Barry Brickalls passing)
Between breathing anything rails related in NZ, John ran his own tours to overseas railways or to what could be classed " dangerous" railways under the guise of Dangerous Brothers.
Last but not least, John was working on renewing the lease of Waitakere Tramline .
If you ever tried to contact him via cellphone he was invariably "in a tunnel and I'll contact you when I emerge" or words to that effect.
So a life fully lived and a mighty fine Kiwi bloke , top advisor, dedicated worker, adventurer, friend and devoted partner ( to Claire)
We will ALL miss John. R.I.P my friend.

20/07/2024

The Nihotupu Tramline is a 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long industrial narrow gauge railway at Nihotupu in the Waitākere Ranges south-west of Auckland in New Zea...

20/07/2024

Our negotiations to get the Rainforest Express going again continues, I would like to say at pace, but the legalities around a lease of the land the rail line sits on is complicated, despite it not needing to be, as we revolve through a never ending circle of bureaucracy.
It has been a good help to find the Nihotupu Trainline is formal and individually listed with a Heritage Order.
While we work on that Harvey and Chris have been cleaning up Jacob's Depo and started painting the office. Organizing and tidying up the engine shed (we cannot accept offers of volunteers while we are still having to work under Watercare's H&S protocols, this will only change once we have our own lease).
This video posted on YouTube (1 year old) shows the overall condition of the line. Other than a handful of larger issue (some already beeing addressed by Watercare because they must support their waterpipe) there is mainly cleaning and debit clearing work so track repair and maintenance can be got at.
All the lead-acid (truck size) batteries in the Engines are behond use, so if anyone knows a company that might be interested in sponsoring a couple (we need 5) please let me know 🙏. Re posted from Ken Turner
Btw great work Ken, Harvey Stewart and Chris Newman.

25/05/2023

Work is being done to establish a local rail advocacy group.

12/09/2022

⭐️ Kingston Flyer Grand Opening Day 2022 ⭐️

The Kingston Flyer team would like to invite all members of the community to join us on Sunday, the 18th of September @ 10am at The Kingston Train Station for the ‘Grand Opening’ of The Kingston Flyer. This will include a brief opening ceremony followed by the first commercially run public train tour for 2022 (departing Kingston at 10.30am).

Throughout the day you will get the chance to see AB795 in steam along with 4 of the fully renovated vintage wooden carriages, there will be live printing of t-shirts, Mr Whippy and the Kingston Flyer Cafe & Bar will be open. We look forward to seeing you!

PLEASE NOTE - TICKETS FOR THE TWO SCHEDULED TRAIN RIDES ARE NOW SOLD OUT.

(For more information on our schedule and tour information for 2022, please visit our website at www.thekingstonflyer.nz).

16/08/2022

Dunedin Railways is set to welcome international tourists this summer once again. Limited passenger services have been run since late 2020 amid the...

13/08/2022

It has now been more than two years since Dunedin Railways has gone into hibernation, the world is changing and normality is returning. With the...

04/07/2022

Not quite railway related but close enough to the western line to be....
If you live in West Auckland or Glen Eden and you want or need good coffee or a lunch snack, you can't go past FIESTA CAFE . Mei and Rosa will look after you !! And you can watch trains go by! Its in Glen Eden and on West Coast Rd by the pharmacy. Tell them Jim sent you!

25/06/2022

We need to have a fully operational long distance train service in both main island of NZ as alternatives to air travel.

Tell KiwiRail and the Government that you support keeping our national passenger rail network by signing the petition https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/save-our-national-passenger-rail-network

09/06/2022

17/05/2022

How much to purchase the Nihotupu line from the Auckland Council ? Do you think they would play ball to have it taken off their hands? It would have to be lock stock and barrel with all of the facilities and RFE. Just curious as to what people think. It would have to be administered by a Trust.

16/05/2022

Our charter scenic train has been spotted heading to Dunedin last week. It looks like a stunning day for a comfortable journey!

Image credit – Jordan Cleaver.

11/05/2022

Advertising the Blue Streak railcar, back in the day when you could catch a train from Wellington to New Plymouth - Evening Post, September 1974

10/05/2022

OPINION: A daily patronage record shows a path to success for the newest inter-regional train.

26/04/2022

14/04/2022

Hoorah! Great news for tourism ! Both Northern Explorer from Auckland / Wellington and the Coastal Pacific Picton/ Christchurch are back from September. Can't wait to book a trip or two. Tell your friends who are travelling to NZ in September. If you can support these services yourself, all the better. And it will be our southern hemisphere spring with new growth and blossoms, lambing season and many more reasons to " track down these trains" !

Two of the country's most famous scenic train journeys are coming out of a Covid-19-induced hibernation.

08/04/2022

Something I haven't spotted before. Courtesy Auckland Council Archives. Photo by our good friend Harvey Stewart.

03/04/2022

03/04/2022

Prod Watercare into action, please communicate with them about opening the rails to YOU guys ( hence the communications masts and telegraph pole) at
communications @ water.co.nz
Use the sample ideas posted in recently or tell them your own positive thoughts as to why these lines are important to you and your family and West Auckland Tourism, now the borders are reopening, and ask if any works are being done to make them safe for staff and public to travel on again. With them being dis used for 8 years there s bound to be issues that require attention. Also request a reply.Your Local politicians can be canvassed too. Share with friends or groups. We need to deluge Watercare with requests to save these icons.

20/03/2022

Sample email for Watercare. Please edit as you wish. Cheers. "The tramlines tick the boxes of the 2013 Council Visitor Plan . ie. Showcases the Wilderness values of the Waitakere Ranges, Showcases the quietness and darkness of the Waitakere ranges- passengers on twilight excursions could sit in the carriages ,in awe of the clear night skies and delight in constellations of glow worms that populate the bush bank and tunnels. The trains allow people of limited mobility the enjoyment and fresh air of the Ranges. They allow Tourists to veiw the unspoilt Waitakere Ranges within the confines of a train WITHOUT setting foot on sensitive Kauri tree roots. The tramlines "create sustainable employment opportunities for locals, and utilises what is unique about our Waitakere Heritage and diversifies the way we use the Ranges for Tourism" Robert Gore , National Candidate. The lines represent a shovel ready project to upgrade them to safe working standards as set by NZTA and OPUS. They will create a Tourism boost for West Auckland. The opportunity to create a West Auckland Tourism Hub at Nihotupu or Waitakere line makes sense. ATEED encourages the development of attractions that draw people to Auckland. Comments from Facebook include "Plenty of Kiwis are willing to explore these Historic lines." "These attractions are whats needed to get our local economies going." " Perfect opportunity to employ, showcase and educate" "The unspoiled scenery, the history, the pristine bush n th history behind both th two dams n their associated railways to b built in order to build. Family friendly n also possible tourist ventures on both railways is another reason as why this piece of history needs to b saved n needs to b opened up again n I refer that to both th rail lines. As a member of the Tramline Society, it has been a privledge to serve th community n we have many who do volunteer as they care about the forest, the railway n the trains driven on those lines. For the benefit of our city and the region, we look forward to the lines being reopened again n re used. Please pass this on my behalf." John W Email to:[email protected]

16/03/2022

We are soon to be at crossroads as to whether carry on with lobbying Watercare/ Council about re opening the Bush Tramlines in West Auckland or closing down. If you care even a little bit about re launching, PLEASE get friends and yourself to email Watercare voicing your support ASAP. I think it may help them decide which
way to go if they see a groundswell of positive feedback towards the tramlines. Be nice, though. We can't afford to mess this up. And PLEASE tell us in the comments your experiences or thoughts on why they should be opened : Both Nihotupu and Waitakere. Photos are good too! Thanks.

14/03/2022

Tell KiwiRail and the Government that you support keeping our national passenger rail network by signing the petition https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/save-our-national-passenger-rail-network

08/03/2022

United We Stand with Ukraine.
( Edited )Photo courtesy of Brian Miller.

03/03/2022

Happy birthday Alex and well done, Te Huia staff!

Is there a better way to spend your birthday than on Te Huia?!

A belated Happy Birthday to Alex who was surprised by his wife Casey-Anne with a trip on Te Huia to Hamilton yesterday... topped off with an awesome Caramel Popcorn cake 🎂 delivered by the onboard crew!

Happy Birthday Alex - hope we made it a memorable one! 🥳

26/02/2022

Rusty Rails 2022 pics from around Pokeno proposed and dropped route to Paeroa, Ngaruawahia, DCR Coromandel, Waikino and Karangahake Gorge, Awakeri Railcarts, Edgecombe. Special hello to Keith Humphries . Glad you joined us! Also a big thanks to Bruce Hermann for the work in organising the trip , and hi to the remainder of the amazing team. Thanks for all of your good company and humor. Thanks also,on behalf of Scott.

26/02/2022

Awakeri Railcarts several days ago. Thanks to Paul for the great time!

21/02/2022

The Sir Edmund Hilary Explorer Heritage Rail & Coach Tour

07/02/2022

The facebook notification page ironically says " Waitakere Tramline and NZ Regional Trains is ready to take appointments. "
Not true. If only we were!!!

20/01/2022

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSe4SFW2G/

This is filmed on Nihotupu Tramline. It's very well done. I recommend watching this, and sharing!

Watch it now and discover more trending videos on TikTok!