The Great Journeys of New Zealand

The Great Journeys of New Zealand is the tourism division of KiwiRail that brings together its three Scenic train services (TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific) with its passenger ferry business, Interislander. 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).

The Great Journeys of New Zealand
Brand
IndustryRail transport in New Zealand
Ferry transport
Founded2017
Headquarters
Wellington
,
New Zealand
Area served
New Zealand
ServicesLong-distance passenger trains, Inter-island passenger ferry
ParentKiwiRail (2017–present)
Websitehttps://www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/
KiwiRail passenger trains
Interactive Map
  Northern Explorer
  Capital Connection
  Coastal Pacific
  TranzAlpine

History
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.

As part of a restructuring programme, in November 2001 Tranz Scenic was incorporated as stand-alone subsidiary Tranz Scenic (2001) Ltd. Tranz Rail sold 50% of Tranz Scenic to two directors of the Victoria, Australia, rail operator West Coast Railway for $33 million.[4] 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 was taken over by Australian transport firm Toll Holdings in 2003, and 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.[5]

The company was renamed Toll NZ and did not retain any of the Tranz Rail directors. In May 2008 the New Zealand Government agreed to buy the rail and sea transport assets of Toll NZ Limited for $665 million.[6] The government branded the new company KiwiRail.

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,[7] 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.[8] However, 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.[9]

Services

Scenic trains
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 Daily (summer only) Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Kaikoura, Waipara, Rangiora, Christchurch Suspended from November 2016 to December 2018 as a result of significant line damage from the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.[10]
Northern Explorer 6 per week, one-way only Auckland Strand, Papakura, Hamilton, Otorohanga, National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Wellington Runs southbound from Auckland on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays. Runs northbound from Wellington on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. There is no service on Wednesdays.
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 Manawatu 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

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.[11]

Rolling stock
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.[12]

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.

Livery
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.[13]

Former trains

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[14] sell its two South Island trains, 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.

Withdrawn 1995

Withdrawn 2001

Withdrawn 2002

Withdrawn 2004

Withdrawn 2012
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See also

References
  1. "The Great Journeys of New Zealand launch". Scoop Independent News.
  2. Stott, Bob (1984). "Booz Allen report in summary". Rails: 217.
  3. "New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990". Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  4. "Auckland rail deal clinched". The New Zealand Herald. 24 December 2001. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. "Toll NZ buys back Tranz Scenic passenger services". 20 May 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  6. "Rail buy back marks new sustainable transport era". 5 May 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  7. "On Board Our Trains". Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. "Opposition parties criticise TranzScenic plans". Radio New Zealand. 1 August 2012.
  9. "KiwiRail may spend $50M on new carriages". 7 May 2017.
  10. "Kaikoura earthquake rips through New Zealand". The Great Journeys of New Zealand. 19 July 2018.
  11. "Regional Transport Committee 07 March 2017 PASSENGER RAIL WORKING PARTY UPDATE" (PDF). Horizons Regional Council.
  12. Palmer, Kloe (3 November 2011). "New carriages debut on South-Island's rails". Christchurch: 3 News. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  13. Auckland Trains – New Tranz Carriage Look
  14. "Tranz Alpine journey up for grabs". One News. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
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