Tranz Scenic

Infobox Company
name = Tranz Scenic
company_
type = Private company
parent = KiwiRail
foundation = 1987 (As InterCity Rail)
location_city = Wellington
location_country = New Zealand
location =
locations =
key_people =
area_served = New Zealand
industry = Transport in New Zealand
products =
services = Long-distance passenger trains
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
divisions =
subsid =
slogan =
homepage = http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz
dissolved =
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intl =

Tranz Scenic is the long-distance passenger train brand of KiwiRail, formed from 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 Tranz Rail created a subsidiary company, Tranz Scenic 2001 Ltd, and sold 50% of it to two directors of the Victoria, Australia rail operator West Coast Railway. A number of services were discontinued then, despite protests. After Toll Holdings purchased Tranz Rail in 2003 it purchased the 50% share of Tranz Scenic 2001 Ltd and absorbed it into Toll Rail.

ervices

In 2004 Tranz Scenic withdrew the 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 the Overlander service on the North Island Main Trunk.

In April 2006, Toll NZ announced that it was proposing to [ [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425829/720377 Tranz Alpine journey up for grabs | TRAVEL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz ] ] sell its two South Island trains, the TranzAlpine and the TranzCoastal. In July the end of The Overlander service was announced, but after significant protest and an increase in patronage (due to the publicity) the service continued, operating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during winter and daily in peak summer.

Current trains

* The Capital Connection: Palmerston North-Wellington, Monday-Friday
* The Overlander: Auckland-Wellington, daily in summer, Friday-Sunday in winter
* The TranzAlpine: Christchurch-Greymouth, daily
* The TranzCoastal: Christchurch-Picton, daily

Former trains

Withdrawn 1995

* The Lynx Express: Picton-Christchurch

Withdrawn 2001

* The Bay Express: Wellington-Napier
* The Geyserland: Auckland-Rotorua
* The Kaimai Express: Auckland-Tauranga
* The Waikato Connection: Hamilton-Auckland

Withdrawn 2002

* The Southerner: Christchurch- [Dunedin] - Invercargill

Withdrawn 2004

* The Northerner: Auckland-Wellington overnight

Rolling stock

The Capital Connection: refurbished 1970s ex-British Rail Mark 2 S class carriages.

The Overlander, The TranzAlpine and The TranzCoastal: NZR 56-ft carriages, most dating from the 1940s. They were extensively refurbished in the late 1980s, receiving new bogies and panoramic windows. The capital expenditure required for their replacement is seen as a major impediment to the future of the operation.

On 22 June 2008 the New Zealand government announced as the first part of the KiwiRail upgrade that the Tranz Scenic carriage fleet would be updated to rebuilt ex British Rail Mark 2 carriages. $25.4m will be spent on the TranzAlpine, with $27m shared between the TranzCoastal and the Overlander.

ee also

*KiwiRail
*Toll NZ
*Rail transport in New Zealand

External links

* [http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz/ Tranz Scenic]

References