OIA2024 - 146
John Voss
Via email -
[email address]
Dear Mr Voss
I refer to your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act), on 17 August 2024, regarding
travel times and speeds for freight services between Auckland and Wellington, asking:
1. The total average travel time for freight services from Auckland to Wellington.
2. The typical speed of the train on each section of the journey, assuming no speed restrictions are in
place.
Please find the requested information below.
Question 1:
We operate an express freight service moving freight between Auckland and Christchurch. Weekday
services travel from Auckland to Wellington in 13 hours and are scheduled to connect to Interislander
ferry connections and then on to Christchurch. The express service makes short stops in Te Rapa
and Palmerston North for crew changes only.
Other train services running between Auckland and Wellington have slightly longer transit times
(between 14 and 16 hours). This includes the train run time and scheduled activities enroute: wagon
attachment and detachment, contain transfer work, locomotive change, and crew changes in Te Rapa
and Palmerston North. These services connect in with freight from Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions
at Te Rapa and Taranaki and Hawkes Bay freight at Palmerston North.
Our rail and ferry network connects more than 300 customers' freight supply chains and we move
around 18 mil ion tonnes of freight each year. Half of all imports and exports from the largest coastal
port in the country, Port of Tauranga, are moved by rail.
Rail provides critical capacity, particularly for long distance and heavy products, and connects New
Zealand producers with overseas markets.
Question 2:
Freight trains are permitted to travel at 80km/h on KiwiRail’s network. The average speed is
dependent on several factors. Rail operating rules determine the maximum train speed permit ed on
each section and take into account rolling stock restrictions, track gradient and maximum train weight,
length and speed.
www.kiwirail.co.nz | 0800 801 070
Wel ington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wel ington 6011
Private Bag 39988, Lower Hutt 5045, New Zealand
This decision has been made under the OIA. You have the right to seek an investigation and review
of this response by the Ombudsman, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details
can be found on the Ombudsman’s website:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Yours sincerely
Laura Ratuva
Senior Communications Advisor, KiwiRail
www.kiwirail.co.nz | 0800 801 070
Wel ington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wel ington 6011
Private Bag 39988, Lower Hutt 5045, New Zealand
