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Demise of NZ train service
Another long distance New Zealand train service is to be axed.
Toll NZ Ltd yesterday announced that The Overlander train service between Auckland and Wellington will cease operating at the end of September.
The company said continuous loss of patronage had led to the decision.
It said the service, which had run at a substantial loss for many years, faced increased costs and competition from cheaper travel options and was no longer viable.
In November 2004 the company ended the overnight train services between Wellington and Auckland.
The service, which started on Valentine’s Day 1909, had been outpaced by cheap flights and the convenience of cars, the company said at the time.
In March last year the company cut several North Island towns from The Overlander’s schedule.
Corporate affairs manager Sue Foley said then that in some places the numbers of passengers were so low “we could not justify keeping it (the service stop) going”.
Yesterday Toll NZ chief executive David Jackson said the company was well aware of how New Zealanders feel about passenger rail and had approached the Government to see if they could assist with the continued operation of The Overlander service.
“After working through with the Government both parties concluded there was not the passenger numbers to justify keeping it running. Significant investment would also have been required to replace the aging carriage fleet.”
Mr Jackson said there was certainly a place in New Zealand for tourist trains such as the Tranz Coastal and Tranz Alpine in the South Island.
“These are shorter journeys that people can easily manage in a day and fit in other activities.”
To travel on the Overlander between Wellington and Auckland costs $170 for a standard adult fare or $158 for an internet fare for the 12-hour journey.
The cost of flying with Air New Zealand can range between about $100 and $282, depending on date and time of travel. Departures are almost hourly and flight time is one hour.
Graham Muldoon
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