Northern Explorer

Northern Explorer

File:Northern Explorer at Wellington.JPG Wellington departure is 7.55am
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Locale	North Island, New Zealand
First service	25 June 2012
Current operator(s)	KiwiRail Scenic Journeys
Route
Start	Wellington
Stops	7
End	Auckland
Distance travelled	681 km (423 mi)
Average journey time	10 hours 55 minutes northbound 10 hours 35 minutes southbound
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard class
Seating arrangements	Airline style, alcove, and lounger
Catering facilities	On-board café
Observation facilities	Large windows in all carriages
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks Baggage carriage
Technical
Rolling stock	New Zealand AK class carriages, DC or DFT locomotive
Route map Legend km 681.00 Auckland Strand 646.92 Papakura 542.29 Hamilton 494.40 Otorohanga (Waitomo) 346.83 National Park 317.09 Ohakune 136.23 Palmerston North 48.26 Paraparaumu 0.00 Wellington

The Northern Explorer is a long-distance passenger train between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). It replaced the Overlander from 25 June 2012.

History

Origins

The first regular daylight Wellington-Auckland passenger train services, augmenting the older overnight services, were the steam-hauled Daylight Limited and diesel-hauled Scenic Daylight, which ran primarily during summer months and Easter holiday period for many years from the 1920s onwards. The arrival of the Blue Streak and later Silver Fern railcars saw an end for a time to regular carriage trains. At the time of its cessation, The Overlander was usually hauled by DC or EF locomotives with NZR 56-foot carriages.

Re-branding as the Northern Explorer

In 2012, passenger numbers were in decline. KiwiRail decided to replace the Overlander with the Northern Explorer, from Monday 25 June 2012. The new service uses one AKC and three AK class carriages, an AKL class luggage van and an AKV class power/viewing van from the Coastal Pacific. The timetable was accelerated by eliminating intermediate stops except Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, Ohakune, National Park, Otorohanga (summer only), Hamilton and Papakura.

Northern Explorer near Waiouru

Hapuawhenua Viaduct, south of National Park