Northern Explorer

The Northern Explorer is a long-distance passenger train operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). Three services operate per week in each direction between Auckland's The Strand Station and Wellington railway station.^[1] The Northern Explorer replaced the Overlander from 25 June 2012.

Northern Explorer

Northern Explorer train set at Paekākāriki
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Operating
Locale	North Island, New Zealand
Predecessor	Overlander
First service	25 June 2012
Current operator(s)	Great Journeys New Zealand
Former operator(s)	KiwiRail Scenic Journeys
Route
Termini	Wellington Auckland
Stops	8
Distance travelled	681 km (423 mi)
Average journey time	10 hours 55 minutes northbound 10 hours 35 minutes southbound
Service frequency	3 per week in each direction, 6 trips total
Line(s) used	North Island Main Trunk
On-board services
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, DFB locomotives
Route map Legend km 681.00 Auckland Strand 646.92 Papakura 542.29 Hamilton 494.40 Otorohanga 397.75 Taumarunui 346.83 National Park 317.09 Ohakune 136.23 Palmerston North 48.26 Paraparaumu 0.00 Wellington This diagram: view talk edit

It was suspended in December 2021,^[2][3] after suspension in August for COVID-19 lockdown.^[4][5] However, it restarted on 25 September 2022.^[6]

KiwiRail passenger trains in the North Island

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 and KiwiRail decided to replace the Overlander with the Northern Explorer, from Monday 25 June 2012. The timetable was accelerated by eliminating intermediate stops, except Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, Ohakune, National Park, Otorohanga (summer only), Hamilton and Papakura.^[7] From October 2016, fire-suppressed DFB class locomotives (as required for diesel-hauled passenger trains in tunnels) were assigned to the service.

The service used one AKC and three AK class carriages, an AKL class luggage van and an AKV class power/viewing van from the Coastal Pacific. A larger AKS luggage van, converted from SA, replaced AKL in 2019.^[8]

Northern Explorer near Waiouru

Hapuawhenua Viaduct, south of National Park

Patronage

The Northern Explorer carried 39,419 passengers in the year to 30 June 2014; about 1,500 more than in 2012–13, but almost 23,000 fewer than the Overlander in 2011–12.^[9] Numbers rose 71% from 2013 to 2018,^[10] or about 65,000 a year and slightly more than the Overlander numbers.

Former stops

The Northern Explorer served the stations shown at the foot of this page. There were variations from 2012. Papakura and Paraparaumu were added on 15 October 2012.^[11] Otorohanga was added on 10 December 2012.^[12] The Auckland terminus was moved from Britomart to The Strand Station on 21 December 2015.^[13]