2228:
2148:. Steam engines continued to operate Friday and Sunday night expresses, and they were the last steam passenger trains in New Zealand. This makes New Zealand unusual, as steam saw out its final days on quiet, unimportant branch lines in most countries, while the last regular services operated by New Zealand's steam engines were prominent express passenger trains. This was because the trains' carriages were steam heated, so separate steam heating vans with boilers were required. So on 26 October 1971, an express from Christchurch to Invercargill became the last regular service in New Zealand to be hauled by a steam locomotive.
38:
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2249:
freight increased, with through services between the major centres rising to prominence. The concentration of exports on fewer ports and the development of containerisation spurred on long-distance freight, and the first freight train from
Christchurch to Invercargill was introduced in December 1970 on a 16-hour schedule.
2195:. The Port Chalmers services lasted 11 more years and were cancelled in late 1979, followed by the Mosgiel services in December 1982. Between 1908 and 1914, the line to Mosgiel was double-tracked because of the commuter traffic, but it has been converted back to single track since the end of commuter services.
2252:
Today, to meet the demands of modern business and to compete with road transportation, operations continue to be enhanced, and much traffic comes in the form of bulk cargo from large customers. Although passenger services no longer exist, the future of long-distance bulk freight on the line appears
2154:
ran to an even faster schedule than the "South Island
Limited". The journey between Christchurch and Dunedin was initially cut to just 6 hours 14 minutes, and by utilising two DJs north of Oamaru and three south, the schedule was further cut to 5 hours 55 minutes. Part of these gains resulted from
2090:
locomotive "Washington". Leaving
Christchurch at 6 am the train arrived at Dunedin at 6.40 pm; there was a breakfast with the Governor and other official guests at Oamaru, passengers were left behind at intermediate stops, and the train was assisted by the Double-Fairlie "Josephine" between Oamaru
2094:
When trains began to run between
Christchurch and Invercargill in a day in November 1904, the main passenger services on the Dunedin-Invercargill section were essentially an extension of the Christchurch-Dunedin trains. When the line was completed in the late 19th century, trains took 11 hours to
2248:
were five branches whose traffic essentially ran to and from
Dunedin/Port Chalmers, while south of Clinton were four branches whose traffic essentially ran to or from Invercargill/Bluff. As this short-distance local traffic declined in the 1950s and 1960s and branch lines closed, long-distance
2162:
When many branch lines were open, local passenger services and "mixed trains" of both passengers and freight were a regular sight on the Main South Line as they made their way to their branch destination, but such trains were progressively cancelled during the 20th century and ceased to exist
2068:
Undulating countryside necessitated heavier earthworks to
Balclutha, completing the route from Dunedin to Invercargill, and construction was completed on 22 January 1879. An opening function was held at Invercargill. The Commissioner of Railways, Mr Conyer injured himself in a fall at Gore.
2235:
Until the 1960s, there was little focus on long-distance freight between the major centres. Instead, the Main South Line was used to feed its many branch lines, with the majority of goods trains being local services between regional areas and major centres or harbours in
Christchurch
2137:" express from Christchurch to Dunedin. During their heyday, these steam-hauled expresses were famous for the speeds they attained across the Canterbury Plains along a section of track near Rakaia nicknamed the "racetrack". They were replaced on 1 December 1970 by the
2198:
On 10 February 2002, the
Southerner was withdrawn as it was claimed to no longer be economic to operate. As of January 2020, only two regular passenger services utilise small portions of the Main South Line: between Christchurch and Rolleston by the
2085:
For much of New
Zealand's railway history, the passenger service from Christchurch to Dunedin was the flagship of the railway. What is regarded as the country's first "express" run on 6 September 1878 was a special train hauled by the new Rogers
1995:
in both directions. Construction was swift through the 1870s, and on 4 February 1876, Christchurch was linked with Timaru. Just under a year later, on 1 February 1877, the line was complete all the way from
Christchurch to Oamaru in north Otago.
1903:, on 1 December 1863. A line south to connect with major South Canterbury centres, northern Otago and Dunedin was desired, and on 24 May 1865 construction of what was then termed the Canterbury Great South Railway began. The
2015:. A difficult hillside climb out of Dunedin was encountered, with construction taking a significant length of time. For this reason, the line from Dunedin met that advancing south from Oamaru at Goodwood, midway between
1984:) gauge line to Rakaia, which was done on 2 June 1873. Soon after this, the provincial government recognised the need to conform with the uniform gauge and the broad gauge was phased out by 6 March 1876.
1968:
announced his "Great Public Works Policy" and placed a high priority on the completion of a line between Christchurch and Dunedin. The act of parliament that established the nation's uniform gauge as
2167:
service operated in the middle of the 20th century and took 6 hours 10 minutes between Christchurch and Dunedin: it was cancelled in April 1976. The Main South Line was used in Dunedin to provide
2065:
was not completed until 30 August 1875 as a hill cutting at Edendale caved in several times. In December 1875 the lines to Winton and Bluff were narrowed from the standard gauge in two days.
2072:
As the line from Dunedin to Christchurch had been finished on 7 September 1878, a rail link was opened all the way from Invercargill to Christchurch, thus completing the Main South Line.
2023:, some 310 kilometres south of Christchurch but only 57 kilometres north of Dunedin. The construction south from Oamaru included the creation of two short branch lines along the way, the
1855:. It is one of the most important railway lines in New Zealand and was one of the first to be built, with construction commencing in the 1860s. At Christchurch, it connects with the
3587:
2187:
classes operated suburban trains, though railcars were used on occasion until 1967. In 1968 commuter services were dieselised and operated by the DJ class, or sometimes the
3626:
3611:
3631:
2227:
20:
2261:
Many secondary and branch lines had junctions with the Main South Line. Below is a list of these lines, all of which are closed unless otherwise noted.
2050:
Construction was rapid, and the first 10 km section south from Dunedin to Abbotsford opened on 1 July 1874. On 1 September 1875 the line opened to
3403:
1791:
460:
1961:
in October 1867, 35 km from central Christchurch the provincial government was so short of finances that construction was temporarily halted.
3462:
3616:
3606:
2670:
2007:) gauge line in New Zealand. Most of this line became part of the Main South Line, with construction progressing north from a junction at
1945:
A compromise between the two, following the most direct route and crossing major rivers at more reasonable places than the coastal route.
3429:
2661:
2061:
At the Invercargill end, construction was swift. The first 17 km to Woodlands opened on 11 February 1874, but the whole section to
2777:
2617:
2598:
2572:
2553:
1804:
3621:
2965:
2386:
2192:
2133:
in 1939 and 1946 respectively was the final development in steam motive power, and they took just 7 hours 9 minutes to haul the "
1987:
Construction not only progressed south from the Christchurch end and north from Dunedin, but also from the intermediate ports of
550:
2831:
3193:
1828:
2151:
2138:
1904:
2091:
and Seacliff (where the engine was left for fitters as Ben Verdon the "K" driver made "Josephine" do too much of the work).
1879:'s major city of Dunedin; and linking the southern centres of Dunedin and Invercargill, improving communication in southern
3558:
3543:
3518:
3295:
3246:
2341:
2297:
2277:
1784:
1171:
1072:
3523:
3467:
2782:
2758:
2244:). A good example of how regionalised this traffic was comes from the Dunedin-Invercargill portion of the line. North of
2720:
1856:
429:
224:
3508:
2897:
3456:
3442:
3164:
2043:". Authorised by the Railways Act 1870 at a cost of ÂŁ5,000 per mile, the line was the first major line constructed to
3475:
3182:
2878:
1887:. Construction of the first section of the line began in 1865 and the whole line was completed on 22 January 1879.
750:
636:
3434:
2813:
2317:
2204:
611:
3538:
1777:
181:
2118:
was introduced and maintained an eight-hour schedule, though they soon handed over duties to the superheated
3553:
2733:
2697:
2654:
2212:
2104:
2016:
1872:
1254:
195:
37:
3548:
2910:
2512:
2321:
2237:
2051:
1932:
1884:
1832:
1376:
786:
91:
3513:
3108:
2837:
2826:
2691:
2412:
2351:
1572:
1285:
320:
3533:
3528:
3397:
3308:
3239:
2370:
2271:
2245:
2134:
2012:
1949:
The third option was chosen and the line was built through an at times relatively barren part of the
1871:
Construction of the Main South Line falls into two main sections: from Christchurch through southern
1445:
1227:
19:
This article is about the railway in New Zealand. For the railway in New South Wales, Australia, see
3157:
3143:
3027:
3013:
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1958:
1896:
1860:
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2471:
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2489:
2442:
2417:
2346:
2241:
2180:
2126:
2115:
2107:
2100:
2087:
2953:
2253:
secure and the Main South Line is an important link in New Zealand's transport infrastructure.
1999:
At the southern end, the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway opened on 1 January 1873, the first
3416:
3321:
3136:
3000:
2885:
2872:
2613:
2594:
2568:
2549:
2381:
2062:
2028:
1950:
1900:
1138:
358:
276:
3409:
3342:
3260:
3101:
3069:
3034:
2867:
2794:
2359:
2216:
2039:
The railway from Dunedin to Clutha was one of the first railways to be built under Vogel's "
1931:
that later became New Zealand's uniform gauge. The first section of the line was opened to
3423:
3314:
3288:
3267:
3253:
3082:
3006:
2928:
2915:
2891:
2376:
2355:
2292:
2287:
1722:
1351:
1318:
824:
2031:. On 7 September 1878 the route from Christchurch to Dunedin was opened in its entirety.
3492:
3449:
3375:
3356:
3349:
3335:
3328:
3281:
3207:
3176:
3170:
3150:
3129:
3122:
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3055:
3041:
3020:
2983:
2948:
2935:
2921:
2904:
2820:
2788:
2764:
2729:
2422:
2407:
2402:
2397:
2392:
2331:
2312:
2282:
2024:
1628:
1515:
1482:
1105:
912:
856:
702:
3600:
3362:
3302:
3062:
3048:
2994:
2959:
2365:
2301:
2172:
2040:
1714:
1540:
937:
117:
3563:
3274:
3233:
3200:
2634:
2307:
2265:
2188:
2184:
2142:
2130:
2119:
2055:
1965:
1848:
1844:
1840:
1661:
974:
665:
96:
74:
2942:
2703:
2354:(first 64 kilometres remain open for passengers: initial four kilometres are an
2200:
2111:
2008:
1908:
1836:
176:
78:
2145:
2096:
2020:
1928:
291:
2639:
2325:
2208:
1935:
on 13 October 1866. Beyond Rolleston, three routes south were considered:
2168:
127:
114:
64:
2176:
2164:
1852:
219:
1710:
1436:
782:
540:
386:
281:
1992:
1988:
1954:
2389:(initial portion remains for freight as the Hornby Industrial Line)
2159:, while the South Island Limited was slowed down by handling mail.
2226:
1880:
1876:
171:
Main Line (Lyttelton-Dunedin) Provincial (Dunedin â Invercargill)
2156:
2643:
2095:
travel from Christchurch to Dunedin and were usually headed by
1976:) granted Canterbury an exemption, permitting it to extend its
2240:), Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin (Port Chalmers), and Invercargill (
1899:
built and opened the first public railway in New Zealand, the
2454:
2452:
2445:. New Zealand Legal Information Institute. 13 September 1870.
1939:
A route well inland to cross major rivers in narrower places.
2231:
DSG 3127 with a shunt of empty timber wagons at Lyttelton
2274:(first 4 km open as the Finegand Industrial Siding)
2110:, except on the hilly section south of Oamaru where the
2565:
The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History
200:
14 Feb 1929 â 19 Sep 1970 (Lyttelton to Christchurch)
3501:
3485:
3389:
3224:
3091:
2974:
2858:
2851:
2805:
2751:
2744:
2714:
2684:
2677:
1831:, is a railway line that runs north and south from
194:
175:
167:
159:
151:
146:
138:
133:
123:
110:
105:
84:
70:
60:
52:
47:
30:
2508:"Opening of the Dunedin and Invercargill Railway"
2300:(initial portion open for freight as part of the
2011:, leaving the final two kilometres to become the
1863:, the other part of the South Island Main Trunk.
2635:Page dedicated to the history of The Southerner
3588:New Zealand railway museums and heritage lines
2585:, HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand), 1994
2458:
42:Main South Line and shunting yards at Dunedin.
2655:
2593:(1998 ed.). Wellington: Grantham House.
2163:entirely a number of decades ago. An evening
1785:
8:
2563:Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) .
3577:represents lines used by passenger trains,
2567:(Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand.
2544:Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (1992).
21:Main Southern railway line, New South Wales
2855:
2748:
2681:
2662:
2648:
2640:
1792:
1778:
232:
205:
3404:Dunedin Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway
2219:, which is as of May 2020 is mothballed.
2526:
3627:Rail transport in the Canterbury Region
3612:3 ft 6 in gauge railways in New Zealand
3463:Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company
2434:
2328:, open for both freight and passengers)
2211:; and the only passenger trains to use
2058:region and 84 kilometres from Dunedin.
1942:A coastal line through fertile country.
1827:, sometimes referred to as part of the
207:
3632:Rail transport in the Southland Region
2591:Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways
1029:
1021:
27:
3581:indicates lines which are now closed.
2610:Rail: The Great New Zealand Adventure
7:
2589:Leitch, David; Scott, Brian (1995).
3430:New Zealand Midland Railway Company
2358:and the remaining 60km is owned by
2257:List of secondary and branch lines
14:
1919:), significantly wider than the
1897:Canterbury provincial government
1843:and along the east coast of the
1698:
1675:
1649:
1642:
1617:
1616:
1609:
1586:
1560:
1554:
1553:
1530:
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1503:
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1470:
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1417:
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1366:
1365:
1340:
1339:
1332:
1306:
1300:
1299:
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1266:
1241:
1215:
1208:
1185:
1159:
1153:
1152:
1127:
1126:
1119:
1094:
1093:
1086:
1060:
1054:
1053:
1028:
1020:
1012:
1011:
988:
962:
956:
955:
927:
926:
900:
894:
893:
870:
844:
838:
837:
814:
813:
770:
763:
740:
739:
716:
690:
684:
683:
655:
654:
626:
625:
599:
592:
569:
528:
521:
498:
479:
472:
450:
443:
417:
410:
372:
345:
338:
309:
263:
256:
155:601.4 kilometres (373.7 mi)
36:
1957:. By the time the line reached
1829:South Island Main Trunk Railway
1610:
1561:
1504:
1471:
1333:
1160:
1061:
963:
845:
310:
3457:Taupo Totara Timber Co Railway
2778:Palmerston NorthâGisborne Line
2612:. Wellington: Grantham House.
2054:; the major town of the lower
1905:Canterbury Provincial Railways
1650:
1643:
1425:
1307:
1267:
1216:
1209:
1120:
1087:
901:
764:
691:
593:
529:
480:
346:
339:
264:
1:
3559:Wainuiomata railway proposals
3519:Canterbury Interior Main Line
2342:Ngapara and Tokarahi Branches
2278:Dunback and Makareao Branches
1699:
1418:
1274:
1172:Dunback and Makareao Branches
1073:Ngapara and Tokarahi Branches
771:
600:
522:
411:
257:
3617:Railway lines opened in 1879
3607:Railway lines in New Zealand
2155:the Southerner not carrying
2035:Dunedin-Invercargill section
1891:Christchurch-Dunedin section
1676:
1587:
1395:
989:
871:
717:
473:
373:
3443:Riccarton Racecourse Siding
2179:. In the days of steam, A,
2146:diesel-electric locomotives
1242:
1186:
570:
499:
451:
444:
418:
16:Railway line in New Zealand
3648:
3476:Whakatane Board Mills Line
2583:Steam, Steel And Splendour
2459:Churchman & Hurst 1992
2203:before it heads along the
751:Ashburton River / Hakatere
637:Selwyn River / Waikirikiri
359:Ferrymead Historic Railway
18:
3572:
2732:), known together as the
2671:New Zealand railway lines
2548:. Wellington: IPL Books.
2041:Great Public Works Policy
1746:
1735:
1707:
1692:
1687:
1669:
1658:
1636:
1625:
1603:
1598:
1580:
1569:
1547:
1538:
1523:
1512:
1490:
1479:
1457:
1440:Finegand Industrial Line/
1433:
1411:
1406:
1388:
1359:
1348:
1326:
1315:
1293:
1282:
1260:
1253:
1235:
1224:
1202:
1197:
1179:
1168:
1146:
1135:
1113:
1102:
1080:
1069:
1047:
1038:
1005:
1000:
982:
971:
949:
920:
909:
887:
882:
864:
853:
831:
822:
807:
779:
757:
748:
733:
728:
710:
699:
677:
648:
619:
608:
586:
581:
563:
537:
515:
510:
492:
488:
466:
459:
437:
426:
404:
384:
366:
354:
332:
303:
275:
250:
246:
235:
204:
35:
3539:Nelson railway proposals
3524:HaywardsâPlimmerton Line
3468:WellingtonâManawatu Line
2832:StillwaterâNgÄkawau Line
2783:StratfordâOkahukura Line
2759:MartonâNew Plymouth line
2490:"Opening of the Railway"
2125:The introduction of the
2005:3 ft 6 in
1978:5 ft 3 in
1974:3 ft 6 in
1925:3 ft 6 in
1917:5 ft 3 in
188:3 ft 6 in
3622:Rail transport in Otago
3554:Taupo railway proposals
3509:AvondaleâSouthdown Line
2966:Waiuku and Mission Bush
2734:South Island Main Trunk
2698:North Island Main Trunk
2546:South Island Main Trunk
2213:Dunedin Railway Station
2171:services both north to
2114:was used. In 1906, the
2608:Sinclair, Roy (1987).
2513:The New Zealand Herald
2232:
2215:are those operated by
1377:Clutha River / Mata-Au
787:Plains Vintage Railway
544:Hornby Industrial Line
3514:Auckland Airport Line
3502:Significant proposals
2838:Waimea Plains Railway
2827:Otago Central Railway
2692:East Coast Main Trunk
2413:Waimea Plains Railway
2352:Otago Central Railway
2230:
1573:Waimea Plains Railway
1286:Otago Central Railway
321:Lyttelton rail tunnel
3534:Martinborough Branch
3529:Marsden Point Branch
3398:Dun Mountain Railway
3296:Ngapara and Tokarahi
3247:Dunback and Makareao
2371:Port Chalmers Branch
2272:Catlins River Branch
2135:South Island Limited
2013:Port Chalmers Branch
1446:Catlins River Branch
1228:Port Chalmers Branch
2772:North Auckland Line
2443:"Railways Act 1870"
2337:Mount Somers Branch
1883:and large parts of
795:Mount Somers Branch
3549:PaeroaâPokeno Line
3486:Under construction
3410:Glen Massey Branch
2879:Donnellys Crossing
2516:. 23 January 1879.
2496:. 23 January 1879.
2478:. 24 January 1879.
2418:Walton Park Branch
2387:Southbridge Branch
2373:(open for freight)
2347:Ocean Beach Branch
2268:(open for freight)
2233:
2081:Passenger services
551:Southbridge Branch
3594:
3593:
3417:Hutt Park Railway
3385:
3384:
3102:Blackball and Roa
2847:
2846:
2740:
2739:
2472:"Railway Opening"
2382:Shag Point Branch
2029:Shag Point Branch
1951:Canterbury Plains
1901:Ferrymead Railway
1814:
1813:
1810:
1809:
1802:
1801:
1766:
1765:
1729:
1728:
1451:
1450:
1139:Shag Point Branch
801:
800:
557:
556:
399:
398:
297:
296:
277:Port of Lyttelton
3639:
3544:North Shore Line
2856:
2795:Hutt Valley Line
2749:
2682:
2664:
2657:
2650:
2641:
2623:
2604:
2578:
2559:
2530:
2524:
2518:
2517:
2504:
2498:
2497:
2494:Grey River Argus
2486:
2480:
2479:
2476:West Coast Times
2468:
2462:
2456:
2447:
2446:
2439:
2360:Dunedin Railways
2223:Freight services
2217:Dunedin Railways
2101:original J class
2046:
2006:
2002:
1983:
1979:
1975:
1971:
1926:
1922:
1918:
1914:
1794:
1787:
1780:
1774:
1711:
1702:
1701:
1679:
1678:
1653:
1652:
1646:
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1620:
1619:
1613:
1612:
1590:
1589:
1564:
1563:
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1507:
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1437:
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1420:
1398:
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1368:
1343:
1342:
1336:
1335:
1310:
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1302:
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1269:
1245:
1244:
1219:
1218:
1212:
1211:
1189:
1188:
1163:
1162:
1156:
1155:
1130:
1129:
1123:
1122:
1097:
1096:
1090:
1089:
1064:
1063:
1057:
1056:
1032:
1031:
1024:
1023:
1015:
1014:
992:
991:
966:
965:
959:
958:
930:
929:
904:
903:
897:
896:
874:
873:
848:
847:
841:
840:
817:
816:
783:
774:
773:
767:
766:
743:
742:
720:
719:
694:
693:
687:
686:
658:
657:
629:
628:
603:
602:
596:
595:
573:
572:
541:
532:
531:
525:
524:
502:
501:
483:
482:
476:
475:
454:
453:
447:
446:
421:
420:
414:
413:
395:Moorhouse Avenue
387:
376:
375:
349:
348:
342:
341:
313:
312:
282:
267:
266:
260:
259:
233:
220:
206:
189:
184:
160:Number of tracks
40:
28:
3647:
3646:
3642:
3641:
3640:
3638:
3637:
3636:
3597:
3596:
3595:
3590:
3582:
3568:
3497:
3481:
3424:Kaitangata Line
3381:
3226:
3220:
3093:
3087:
2976:
2970:
2911:Mount Maunganui
2898:KumeuâRiverhead
2860:
2843:
2801:
2745:Secondary lines
2736:
2726:Main South Line
2721:Main North Line
2710:
2673:
2668:
2631:
2626:
2620:
2607:
2601:
2588:
2581:Leitch, David;
2575:
2562:
2556:
2543:
2539:
2534:
2533:
2529:, pp. 1â7.
2525:
2521:
2506:
2505:
2501:
2488:
2487:
2483:
2470:
2469:
2465:
2457:
2450:
2441:
2440:
2436:
2431:
2377:Roxburgh Branch
2356:industrial spur
2298:Kingston Branch
2293:Kaitangata Line
2288:Fernhill Branch
2259:
2225:
2083:
2078:
2044:
2037:
2004:
2000:
1981:
1977:
1973:
1969:
1924:
1920:
1916:
1912:
1893:
1869:
1857:Main North Line
1825:Main South Line
1821:
1820:
1819:
1803:
1798:
1772:
1744:
1731:
1723:Kingston Branch
1703:
1685:
1680:
1665:
1654:
1647:
1632:
1621:
1614:
1596:
1591:
1576:
1565:
1558:
1543:
1534:
1519:
1508:
1501:
1486:
1475:
1468:
1453:
1429:
1422:
1404:
1399:
1384:
1379:
1370:
1355:
1352:Kaitangata Line
1344:
1337:
1322:
1319:Roxburgh Branch
1311:
1304:
1289:
1278:
1271:
1251:
1246:
1231:
1220:
1213:
1195:
1190:
1175:
1164:
1157:
1142:
1131:
1124:
1109:
1098:
1091:
1076:
1065:
1058:
1043:
1034:
1033:
1026:
1025:
1016:
998:
993:
978:
967:
960:
945:
940:
931:
916:
905:
898:
880:
875:
860:
849:
842:
827:
825:Rangitata River
818:
803:
775:
768:
753:
744:
726:
721:
706:
695:
688:
673:
668:
659:
644:
639:
630:
615:
604:
597:
579:
574:
559:
533:
526:
508:
503:
484:
477:
455:
448:
433:
430:Main North Line
422:
415:
382:
377:
362:
350:
343:
328:
323:
314:
299:
273:
268:
261:
244:
227:
211:
196:Electrification
187:
182:
142:22 January 1879
101:
43:
31:Main South Line
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
3645:
3643:
3635:
3634:
3629:
3624:
3619:
3614:
3609:
3599:
3598:
3592:
3591:
3573:
3570:
3569:
3567:
3566:
3561:
3556:
3551:
3546:
3541:
3536:
3531:
3526:
3521:
3516:
3511:
3505:
3503:
3499:
3498:
3496:
3495:
3493:City Rail Link
3489:
3487:
3483:
3482:
3480:
3479:
3472:
3460:
3453:
3450:Sanson Tramway
3446:
3439:
3427:
3420:
3413:
3406:
3401:
3393:
3391:
3387:
3386:
3383:
3382:
3380:
3379:
3372:
3365:
3360:
3353:
3346:
3339:
3332:
3325:
3318:
3311:
3306:
3299:
3292:
3285:
3278:
3271:
3264:
3257:
3250:
3243:
3236:
3230:
3228:
3222:
3221:
3219:
3218:
3211:
3204:
3197:
3190:
3185:
3180:
3173:
3168:
3161:
3154:
3147:
3140:
3133:
3126:
3119:
3112:
3105:
3097:
3095:
3089:
3088:
3086:
3085:
3080:
3073:
3066:
3059:
3052:
3045:
3038:
3031:
3024:
3017:
3010:
3003:
2998:
2991:
2986:
2980:
2978:
2972:
2971:
2969:
2968:
2963:
2956:
2951:
2946:
2939:
2932:
2925:
2918:
2913:
2908:
2901:
2894:
2889:
2882:
2875:
2870:
2864:
2862:
2853:
2849:
2848:
2845:
2844:
2842:
2841:
2834:
2829:
2824:
2821:Nelson Section
2817:
2809:
2807:
2803:
2802:
2800:
2799:
2789:Wairarapa Line
2785:
2780:
2775:
2768:
2765:Newmarket Line
2761:
2755:
2753:
2746:
2742:
2741:
2738:
2737:
2730:Lyttelton Line
2718:
2716:
2712:
2711:
2709:
2708:
2694:
2688:
2686:
2679:
2675:
2674:
2669:
2667:
2666:
2659:
2652:
2644:
2638:
2637:
2630:
2629:External links
2627:
2625:
2624:
2618:
2605:
2599:
2586:
2579:
2573:
2560:
2554:
2540:
2538:
2535:
2532:
2531:
2519:
2499:
2481:
2463:
2448:
2433:
2432:
2430:
2427:
2426:
2425:
2423:Wyndham Branch
2420:
2415:
2410:
2408:Waimate Branch
2405:
2403:Waikaka Branch
2400:
2398:Tokanui Branch
2395:
2393:Tapanui Branch
2390:
2384:
2379:
2374:
2368:
2363:
2349:
2344:
2339:
2334:
2332:Moeraki Branch
2329:
2315:
2313:Methven Branch
2310:
2305:
2295:
2290:
2285:
2283:Fairlie Branch
2280:
2275:
2269:
2258:
2255:
2224:
2221:
2152:The Southerner
2082:
2079:
2077:
2074:
2036:
2033:
2025:Moeraki Branch
1947:
1946:
1943:
1940:
1892:
1889:
1868:
1865:
1817:
1816:
1815:
1812:
1811:
1808:
1807:
1800:
1799:
1797:
1796:
1789:
1782:
1773:This diagram:
1771:
1768:
1767:
1764:
1763:
1761:
1759:
1757:
1755:
1753:
1751:
1748:
1747:
1745:
1742:
1740:
1738:
1736:
1733:
1732:
1727:
1726:
1718:
1717:
1708:
1706:
1704:
1697:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1689:
1686:
1683:
1681:
1674:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1666:
1659:
1657:
1655:
1648:
1641:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1633:
1629:Wyndham Branch
1626:
1624:
1622:
1615:
1608:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1600:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1585:
1583:
1581:
1578:
1577:
1570:
1568:
1566:
1559:
1552:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1544:
1539:
1537:
1535:
1528:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1520:
1516:Waikaka Branch
1513:
1511:
1509:
1502:
1495:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1487:
1483:Tapanui Branch
1480:
1478:
1476:
1469:
1462:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1454:
1449:
1448:
1442:
1441:
1434:
1432:
1430:
1423:
1416:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1393:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1364:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1349:
1347:
1345:
1338:
1331:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1323:
1316:
1314:
1312:
1305:
1298:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1290:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1272:
1265:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1240:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1225:
1223:
1221:
1214:
1207:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1184:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1176:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1158:
1151:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1136:
1134:
1132:
1125:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1110:
1106:Moeraki Branch
1103:
1101:
1099:
1092:
1085:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1059:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1027:
1019:
1018:
1017:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1002:
999:
996:
994:
987:
985:
983:
980:
979:
972:
970:
968:
961:
954:
952:
950:
947:
946:
943:
941:
936:
934:
932:
925:
923:
921:
918:
917:
913:Waimate Branch
910:
908:
906:
899:
892:
890:
888:
885:
884:
881:
878:
876:
869:
867:
865:
862:
861:
857:Fairlie Branch
854:
852:
850:
843:
836:
834:
832:
829:
828:
823:
821:
819:
812:
810:
808:
805:
804:
799:
798:
790:
789:
780:
778:
776:
769:
762:
760:
758:
755:
754:
749:
747:
745:
738:
736:
734:
731:
730:
727:
724:
722:
715:
713:
711:
708:
707:
703:Methven Branch
700:
698:
696:
689:
682:
680:
678:
675:
674:
671:
669:
664:
662:
660:
653:
651:
649:
646:
645:
642:
640:
635:
633:
631:
624:
622:
620:
617:
616:
609:
607:
605:
598:
591:
589:
587:
584:
583:
580:
577:
575:
568:
566:
564:
561:
560:
555:
554:
546:
545:
538:
536:
534:
527:
520:
518:
516:
513:
512:
509:
506:
504:
497:
495:
493:
490:
489:
487:
485:
478:
471:
469:
467:
464:
463:
458:
456:
449:
442:
440:
438:
435:
434:
427:
425:
423:
416:
409:
407:
405:
402:
401:
397:
396:
392:
391:
383:
380:
378:
371:
369:
367:
364:
363:
355:
353:
351:
344:
337:
335:
333:
330:
329:
326:
324:
319:
317:
315:
308:
306:
304:
301:
300:
295:
294:
287:
286:
279:
274:
271:
269:
262:
255:
253:
251:
248:
247:
245:
242:
240:
238:
236:
229:
228:
223:
213:
212:
209:
202:
201:
198:
192:
191:
179:
173:
172:
169:
165:
164:
161:
157:
156:
153:
149:
148:
144:
143:
140:
136:
135:
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
112:
108:
107:
103:
102:
100:
99:
94:
88:
86:
82:
81:
72:
68:
67:
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3644:
3633:
3630:
3628:
3625:
3623:
3620:
3618:
3615:
3613:
3610:
3608:
3605:
3604:
3602:
3589:
3585:
3580:
3576:
3571:
3565:
3562:
3560:
3557:
3555:
3552:
3550:
3547:
3545:
3542:
3540:
3537:
3535:
3532:
3530:
3527:
3525:
3522:
3520:
3517:
3515:
3512:
3510:
3507:
3506:
3504:
3500:
3494:
3491:
3490:
3488:
3484:
3478:
3477:
3473:
3470:
3469:
3464:
3461:
3459:
3458:
3454:
3452:
3451:
3447:
3445:
3444:
3440:
3437:
3436:
3431:
3428:
3426:
3425:
3421:
3419:
3418:
3414:
3412:
3411:
3407:
3405:
3402:
3400:
3399:
3395:
3394:
3392:
3390:Private lines
3388:
3378:
3377:
3373:
3371:
3370:
3366:
3364:
3361:
3359:
3358:
3354:
3352:
3351:
3347:
3345:
3344:
3340:
3338:
3337:
3333:
3331:
3330:
3326:
3324:
3323:
3319:
3317:
3316:
3312:
3310:
3309:Port Chalmers
3307:
3305:
3304:
3300:
3298:
3297:
3293:
3291:
3290:
3286:
3284:
3283:
3279:
3277:
3276:
3272:
3270:
3269:
3265:
3263:
3262:
3258:
3256:
3255:
3251:
3249:
3248:
3244:
3242:
3241:
3240:Catlins River
3237:
3235:
3232:
3231:
3229:
3223:
3217:
3216:
3212:
3210:
3209:
3205:
3203:
3202:
3198:
3196:
3195:
3191:
3189:
3186:
3184:
3183:Hokitika/Ross
3181:
3179:
3178:
3174:
3172:
3169:
3167:
3166:
3162:
3160:
3159:
3155:
3153:
3152:
3148:
3146:
3145:
3141:
3139:
3138:
3134:
3132:
3131:
3127:
3125:
3124:
3120:
3118:
3117:
3113:
3111:
3110:
3109:Cape Foulwind
3106:
3104:
3103:
3099:
3098:
3096:
3090:
3084:
3081:
3079:
3078:
3074:
3072:
3071:
3067:
3065:
3064:
3060:
3058:
3057:
3053:
3051:
3050:
3046:
3044:
3043:
3039:
3037:
3036:
3032:
3030:
3029:
3025:
3023:
3022:
3018:
3016:
3015:
3011:
3009:
3008:
3004:
3002:
2999:
2997:
2996:
2992:
2990:
2987:
2985:
2982:
2981:
2979:
2973:
2967:
2964:
2962:
2961:
2957:
2955:
2952:
2950:
2947:
2945:
2944:
2940:
2938:
2937:
2933:
2931:
2930:
2926:
2924:
2923:
2919:
2917:
2914:
2912:
2909:
2907:
2906:
2902:
2900:
2899:
2895:
2893:
2890:
2888:
2887:
2883:
2881:
2880:
2876:
2874:
2871:
2869:
2866:
2865:
2863:
2857:
2854:
2850:
2840:
2839:
2835:
2833:
2830:
2828:
2825:
2823:
2822:
2818:
2816:
2815:
2811:
2810:
2808:
2804:
2797:
2796:
2791:
2790:
2786:
2784:
2781:
2779:
2776:
2774:
2773:
2769:
2767:
2766:
2762:
2760:
2757:
2756:
2754:
2750:
2747:
2743:
2735:
2731:
2727:
2723:
2722:
2717:
2713:
2706:
2705:
2700:
2699:
2695:
2693:
2690:
2689:
2687:
2683:
2680:
2676:
2672:
2665:
2660:
2658:
2653:
2651:
2646:
2645:
2642:
2636:
2633:
2632:
2628:
2621:
2619:1-86934-013-2
2615:
2611:
2606:
2602:
2600:1-86934-048-5
2596:
2592:
2587:
2584:
2580:
2576:
2574:0-908876-20-3
2570:
2566:
2561:
2557:
2555:0-908876-78-5
2551:
2547:
2542:
2541:
2536:
2528:
2527:Sinclair 1987
2523:
2520:
2515:
2514:
2509:
2503:
2500:
2495:
2491:
2485:
2482:
2477:
2473:
2467:
2464:
2460:
2455:
2453:
2449:
2444:
2438:
2435:
2428:
2424:
2421:
2419:
2416:
2414:
2411:
2409:
2406:
2404:
2401:
2399:
2396:
2394:
2391:
2388:
2385:
2383:
2380:
2378:
2375:
2372:
2369:
2367:
2366:Outram Branch
2364:
2361:
2357:
2353:
2350:
2348:
2345:
2343:
2340:
2338:
2335:
2333:
2330:
2327:
2323:
2319:
2316:
2314:
2311:
2309:
2306:
2303:
2302:Wairio Branch
2299:
2296:
2294:
2291:
2289:
2286:
2284:
2281:
2279:
2276:
2273:
2270:
2267:
2264:
2263:
2262:
2256:
2254:
2250:
2247:
2243:
2239:
2229:
2222:
2220:
2218:
2214:
2210:
2206:
2202:
2196:
2194:
2190:
2186:
2182:
2178:
2175:and south to
2174:
2173:Port Chalmers
2170:
2166:
2160:
2158:
2153:
2149:
2147:
2144:
2140:
2136:
2132:
2128:
2123:
2121:
2117:
2113:
2109:
2106:
2102:
2098:
2097:steam engines
2092:
2089:
2080:
2075:
2073:
2070:
2066:
2064:
2059:
2057:
2053:
2048:
2045:1,067 mm
2042:
2034:
2032:
2030:
2026:
2022:
2018:
2014:
2010:
2001:1,067 mm
1997:
1994:
1990:
1985:
1982:1,600 mm
1970:1,067 mm
1967:
1962:
1960:
1956:
1952:
1944:
1941:
1938:
1937:
1936:
1934:
1930:
1921:1,067 mm
1913:1,600 mm
1910:
1906:
1902:
1898:
1890:
1888:
1886:
1882:
1878:
1874:
1866:
1864:
1862:
1858:
1854:
1850:
1846:
1842:
1838:
1834:
1830:
1826:
1806:
1795:
1790:
1788:
1783:
1781:
1776:
1775:
1770:
1769:
1762:
1760:
1758:
1756:
1754:
1752:
1750:
1749:
1741:
1739:
1737:
1734:
1724:
1720:
1719:
1716:
1715:Wairio Branch
1713:
1712:
1705:
1696:
1694:
1691:
1688:Invercargill
1682:
1673:
1671:
1668:
1664:
1663:
1656:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1631:
1630:
1623:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1593:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1575:
1574:
1567:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1542:
1541:Mataura River
1536:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1510:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1485:
1484:
1477:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1447:
1444:
1443:
1439:
1438:
1431:
1415:
1413:
1410:
1401:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1381:
1378:
1374:
1372:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1354:
1353:
1346:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1321:
1320:
1313:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1288:
1287:
1280:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1256:
1248:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1230:
1229:
1222:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1192:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1174:
1173:
1166:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1141:
1140:
1133:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1108:
1107:
1100:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1075:
1074:
1067:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1042:
1041:Oamaru Branch
1036:
1009:
1007:
1004:
995:
986:
984:
981:
977:
976:
969:
953:
951:
948:
942:
939:
938:Waitaki River
935:
933:
924:
922:
919:
915:
914:
907:
891:
889:
886:
877:
868:
866:
863:
859:
858:
851:
835:
833:
830:
826:
820:
811:
809:
806:
796:
792:
791:
788:
785:
784:
777:
761:
759:
756:
752:
746:
737:
735:
732:
723:
714:
712:
709:
705:
704:
697:
681:
679:
676:
670:
667:
663:
661:
652:
650:
647:
641:
638:
634:
632:
623:
621:
618:
614:
613:
606:
590:
588:
585:
576:
567:
565:
562:
552:
548:
547:
543:
542:
535:
519:
517:
514:
505:
496:
494:
491:
486:
470:
468:
465:
462:
457:
441:
439:
436:
432:
431:
424:
408:
406:
403:
394:
393:
389:
388:
379:
370:
368:
365:
361:
360:
352:
336:
334:
331:
325:
322:
318:
316:
307:
305:
302:
293:
289:
288:
284:
283:
278:
270:
254:
252:
249:
241:
239:
237:
234:
231:
230:
226:
222:
221:
218:
215:
214:
208:
203:
199:
197:
193:
185:
183:1,067 mm
180:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
145:
141:
137:
132:
129:
126:
122:
119:
116:
113:
109:
104:
98:
95:
93:
90:
89:
87:
83:
80:
76:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
55:
51:
46:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
3583:
3578:
3574:
3564:Waipu Branch
3474:
3466:
3455:
3448:
3441:
3435:Midland Line
3433:
3422:
3415:
3408:
3396:
3374:
3367:
3355:
3348:
3341:
3334:
3327:
3320:
3313:
3301:
3294:
3287:
3280:
3273:
3266:
3259:
3252:
3245:
3238:
3227:South Island
3213:
3206:
3199:
3192:
3175:
3163:
3158:Mount Somers
3156:
3149:
3144:Little River
3142:
3135:
3128:
3121:
3114:
3107:
3100:
3094:South Island
3075:
3068:
3061:
3054:
3047:
3040:
3033:
3028:Mount Egmont
3026:
3019:
3014:Johnsonville
3012:
3005:
2993:
2977:North Island
2958:
2941:
2934:
2927:
2920:
2903:
2896:
2884:
2877:
2861:North Island
2852:Branch lines
2836:
2819:
2814:Midland Line
2812:
2806:South Island
2793:
2787:
2770:
2763:
2752:North Island
2725:
2719:
2715:South Island
2702:
2696:
2685:North Island
2609:
2590:
2582:
2564:
2545:
2537:Bibliography
2522:
2511:
2502:
2493:
2484:
2475:
2466:
2461:, p. 9.
2437:
2318:Midland Line
2308:Kurow Branch
2266:Bluff Branch
2260:
2251:
2234:
2205:Midland Line
2197:
2161:
2150:
2141:, headed by
2124:
2093:
2084:
2071:
2067:
2060:
2056:Clutha River
2049:
2038:
1998:
1986:
1966:Julius Vogel
1963:
1948:
1894:
1870:
1867:Construction
1849:Invercargill
1845:South Island
1841:Christchurch
1824:
1822:
1805:Detailed map
1662:Bluff Branch
1660:
1627:
1571:
1514:
1481:
1350:
1317:
1284:
1226:
1170:
1137:
1104:
1071:
1040:
975:Kurow Branch
973:
911:
855:
701:
666:Rakaia River
612:Midland Line
610:
461:Christchurch
428:
390:Christchurch
356:
285:former ferry
216:
118:rail freight
97:Invercargill
75:South Island
25:
3369:Walton Park
3215:Whitecliffs
3194:Southbridge
3188:Seddonville
3116:Conns Creek
2989:Castlecliff
2704:Kapiti Line
2201:TranzAlpine
2009:Sawyers Bay
1909:broad gauge
1837:New Zealand
1198:Palmerston
177:Track gauge
152:Line length
124:Operator(s)
79:New Zealand
56:Operational
3601:Categories
3322:Shag Point
3001:Gracefield
2886:Glen Afton
2873:Dargaville
2678:Main lines
2429:References
2139:Southerner
2021:Waikouaiti
2017:Palmerston
1873:Canterbury
1407:Balclutha
793:(formerly
729:Ashburton
582:Rolleston
549:(formerly
511:Middleton
292:Wellington
3343:Tuatapere
3261:Hedgehope
3137:Ferrymead
3035:Moutohora
2868:Cambridge
2326:Greymouth
2322:Rolleston
2238:Lyttelton
2209:Greymouth
2193:DSC class
2122:of 1915.
2076:Operation
2052:Balclutha
1964:In 1870,
1933:Rolleston
1885:Southland
1833:Lyttelton
210:Route map
168:Character
147:Technical
92:Lyttelton
3584:See also
3315:Roxburgh
3289:Mossburn
3268:Kingston
3254:Fernhill
3083:Wanganui
3007:Greytown
2954:TÄneatua
2929:Onehunga
2916:Murupara
2892:Kinleith
2189:DI class
2169:commuter
2143:DJ class
2027:and the
1953:towards
1839:through
128:KiwiRail
115:KiwiRail
65:KiwiRail
48:Overview
3579:Italics
3376:Wyndham
3357:Waikaka
3350:Waikaia
3336:Tokanui
3329:Tapanui
3282:Moeraki
3208:Waimate
3177:Rewanui
3171:Rapahoe
3151:Methven
3130:Fairlie
3123:Eyreton
3077:Waitara
3056:Raetihi
3049:Opunake
3042:Ngatapa
3021:Melling
2984:Ahuriri
2949:Rotorua
2936:Onerahi
2922:Okaihau
2905:Manukau
2246:Clinton
2177:Mosgiel
2165:railcar
2131:J class
2127:J class
2120:A class
2116:A class
2112:T class
2108:K class
2103:or the
2099:of the
2088:K class
2047:gauge.
1853:Dunedin
1255:Dunedin
1001:Oamaru
883:Timaru
672:1,744 m
327:2,595 m
134:History
106:Service
85:Termini
3363:Wairio
3303:Outram
3165:Oxford
3070:Te Aro
3063:Taonui
2995:Foxton
2960:Thames
2792:(inc.
2728:(inc.
2701:(inc.
2616:
2597:
2571:
2552:
2183:, and
2105:Rogers
1993:Oamaru
1989:Timaru
1959:Selwyn
1955:Rakaia
1861:Picton
400:
298: )
280:(
225:Legend
217:
139:Opened
71:Locale
53:Status
3275:Kurow
3234:Bluff
3225:Lower
3201:Waiau
3092:Upper
2975:Lower
2859:Upper
2242:Bluff
1929:gauge
1907:were
1881:Otago
1877:Otago
1730:
1709:
1684:601.4
1599:Gore
1595:537.2
1452:
1435:
1403:461.4
1383:437 m
1250:377.9
1194:314.0
997:250.3
944:914 m
879:170.0
802:
781:
643:317 m
558:
539:
385:
61:Owner
3575:Bold
2943:Opua
2724:and
2614:ISBN
2595:ISBN
2569:ISBN
2550:ISBN
2191:and
2157:mail
2129:and
2063:Gore
2019:and
1991:and
1895:The
1851:via
1823:The
1793:edit
1786:talk
1779:view
725:93.9
578:31.9
507:14.3
111:Type
2324:to
2207:to
1875:to
1859:to
1847:to
1835:in
1818:Map
381:9.8
357:to
290:to
272:0.0
163:One
3603::
3586::
2510:.
2492:.
2474:.
2451:^
1927:)
1911:,
1743:km
243:km
77:,
3471:)
3465:(
3438:)
3432:(
2798:)
2707:)
2663:e
2656:t
2649:v
2622:.
2603:.
2577:.
2558:.
2362:)
2320:(
2304:)
2236:(
2185:B
2181:B
2003:(
1980:(
1972:(
1923:(
1915:(
1725:)
1721:(
797:)
553:)
190:)
186:(
23:.
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