New Zealand’s rail network spans approximately 4,375 kilometers of track connecting major cities and ports across both the North and South Islands.

Network Overview

  • Freight: Moves about 13% of national freight and a quarter of New Zealand’s exports, focusing heavily on bulk goods and the golden triangle between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga.
  • Metro Passenger: Urban commuter rail operates in Auckland managed by Auckland Transport and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
  • Long-Distance Tourism: Scenic journeys like the TranzAlpine and Northern Explorer operate under KiwiRail’s Great Journeys New Zealand brand.
  • Infrastructure: The system relies on 1,344 bridges and 106 tunnels, facing ongoing challenges from legacy underinvestment and weather events.

Key organisations in the New Zealand Rail sector include

The RTSA’s membership is drawn from a broad cross section of these organisations as well as from contractors, suppliers and consultancies. We run a regular programme of online lunchtime webinar’s, and in person events in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Our 2026 New Zealand Committee is

  • Nicky Sweetman (Chair)
  • Mark Gullery
  • Lucy Cammell
  • Raghava Konduri  (Secretary)
  • Eric Lee
  • Jaco Vorster  (University Lead)
  • Steve Crump    (Treasurer)
  • John Gardiner
  • Daniel Headifen
  • Gesmar Nunes de Almeida Junior
  • Atosh Mahapatra
  • Christopher Whyte
  • Michael Grice  (Events co-ordination)
  • Divya Rajasekaran
  • Frances Power
  • Dom Snyman
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