Tranz Scenic
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| Tranz Scenic | |
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| Overview | |
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| Reporting marks: | TS |
| Locale: | From Auckland in the north to Christchurch in the south. |
| Dates of operation: | 1995—present |
| Track gauge: | 1067 mm (narrow gauge) |
| Locomotives: | 10 (est 2005) |
| Headquarters: | Wellington |
Tranz Scenic is the long-distance passenger rail division of Toll Rail, formed of the New Zealand Railways Corporation InterCity Rail services. Tranz Scenic was renamed along with the other operating divisions of Tranz Rail in 1995. In 2001 50% of the division was sold to two directors of the Victoria, Australia rail operator West Coast Railway as Tranz Scenic (2001) Limited. A number of services were discontinued at this time, despite protests. After Toll Holdings purchased Tranz Rail in 2003, it purchased the 50% share of Tranz Scenic (2001) and absorbed it into the company's Toll Rail operation.
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[edit] Services
In 2004 Tranz Scenic withdrew its Northerner overnight Auckland - Wellington service, citing poor patronage. This was the last overnight service in New Zealand. Tranz Scenic also reduced the number of stations served by its remaining Overlander service on the North Island Main Trunk.
In April 2006, Toll Rail announced [1] the sale of its two remaining South Island trains, the TranzAlpine and the TranzCoastal. In July, the end of the Overlander service was also announced, but after significant protest and an increase in patronage (due to the publicity) the service was allowed to continue. However, it will now only operate Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the winter months and return to seven days a week for the summer peak season.
[edit] Current services
- Capital Connection: Palmerston North - Wellington
- Overlander: Auckland - Wellington
- TranzCoastal: Christchurch - Picton
- TranzAlpine: Christchurch - Greymouth
[edit] Former services
- Northerner: Overnight Auckland - Wellington (Discontinued 2004)
- Southerner: Christchurch - Dunedin - Invercargill (Discontinued 2002)
- Lynx Express: Picton - Christchurch (Discontinued 1995)
- Kaimai Express: Auckland - Tauranga (Discontinued 2001)
- Geyserland Express: Auckland - Rotorua (Discontinued 2001)
- Bay Express: Wellington - Napier (Discontinued 2001)
- Waikato Connection: Hamilton - Auckland (Discontinued 2001)
[edit] Rolling stock
Tranz Scenic's rolling stock is largely made up of "56-ft" NZR designed and built carriages, most of which date from the 1940s. The capital expenditure required for the replacement of this rolling stock is seen as a major impediment to the future of the operation. This rolling stock was extensively refurbished by the former New Zealand Railways Corporation during the late 1980s, when the carriages received new bogies and larger 'panoramic' windows.
Tranz Scenic does use some more modern rolling stock, in the form of 1970s refurbished ex-British Rail Mark 2 carriages used on the Capital Connection service.
