Art Deco train tickets: Early bookings urged as Napier excursions return

Steam Incorporated's pride and joy, the 110-year-old Ab 608 “Passchendaele”, is on track for its first Napier Art Deco Festival excursions next month.

People who have missed out on past Art Deco train experiences because of sell-out demand are getting their chance this year with early sales available ahead of the excursions next month.

Tommy Secker, of Kāpiti Coast-based Steam Incorporated, says about 2500 tickets have been available for the excursions during the annual festival in Napier from February 19-23.

The programme includes an excursion from Paekākāriki to Napier and back for visitors to the festival, a “Murder on the Waipuk’ Express” dinner theatre experience, a “Hawke’s Bay Flyer” full-day experience with destination choices of Waipukurau and Woodville, and “Huff ‘N’ Puff” shuttles between Napier and Hastings.

Until 2015, the vintage trains were a core part of the Art Deco Weekend.

They returned last year as the festival continued its comeback after the curtailment and cancellations of the Covid era and Cyclone Gabrielle.

“Steam in the Bay isn’t just about going somewhere,” Secker said.

“It’s about stepping back in time.

“With limited carriage capacity and strong national interest in Art Deco Weekend, we’re encouraging people to pre-book to avoid missing out,” he said.

The programme was launched in October, including an announcement that Steam Incorporated’s 110-year-old Ab 608 “Passchendaele”, built in 1915 and named in memory of New Zealand railwaymen who fell at the months-long Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, will be part of the festival for the first time.

Correction: This article has been updated to remove reference to ticket sales dwindling as this information was not accurate.

Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter based in Art Deco city Napier, covering local and regional news, with more than 50 years in journalism.