Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

New train will run one-off weekend summer jaunt between Hamilton and Auckland

Tom Rowland
By Tom Rowland
Waikato Herald·
29 Oct, 2020 08:55 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
The new Te Huia rail carriages have been used for training since they arrived in Hamilton in September. Photo / Dave Macpherson

The new Te Huia rail carriages have been used for training since they arrived in Hamilton in September. Photo / Dave Macpherson

A special weekend train trip between Hamilton and Auckland using the new Te Huia rail carriages will operate in January, providing an exciting one-off experience for visitors to the Waikato and Auckland regions.

The request to operate the charter service came from Hamilton city and Waikato district councillors on the Te Huia rail governance group as an opportunity to experience Te Huia train travel and promote the start-up commuter service ahead of its launch.

It is proposed the charter train will depart Frankton on the morning of Saturday, January 16, arriving at The Strand close to Auckland's CBD 2.5 hours later. It will stop at Rotokauri and Huntly, and then return at midday with Auckland passengers planning to visit the Waikato.

Inside one of the new carriages - amenities will include  WiFi, café, toilets, and USB/charging points. Photo / Supplied
Inside one of the new carriages - amenities will include WiFi, café, toilets, and USB/charging points. Photo / Supplied

A Sunday service the following day will return passengers to their home destination.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The train will have a capacity of 217 seats, with passengers able to stow luggage for their overnight stay. All on-board amenities – such as WiFi, cafe, toilets, USB/charging points – will be available.

The charter service will be managed by Leisure Time Tours in close partnership with Hamilton & Waikato Tourism and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development.

Travel packages would incorporate the rail journey, bus connections, accommodation, breakfast and tourist excursions.

The return train fare and accommodation package will start from $248 per person (twin share).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The charter was unanimously endorsed at a meeting of Waikato regional councillors in Hamilton on Thursday.

"Te Huia signals a renaissance of rail in the Waikato region," said Waikato Regional Council chairman Russ Rimmington.

"This charter is a huge opportunity for us to promote this groundbreaking service ahead of its launch, helping to generate the step change that travelling by rail is cool and economical."

The  pedestrian overbridge being built at the Rotokauri transport hub. The charter train will stop at Rotokauri and Huntly and will return at midday with Auckland passengers. Image / Hamilton City
The pedestrian overbridge being built at the Rotokauri transport hub. The charter train will stop at Rotokauri and Huntly and will return at midday with Auckland passengers. Image / Hamilton City

"It will also help to test the viability of a longer term operational concept that could include sporting events and school holidays. I applaud the initiative of some on the working group to give this charter a go."

Discover more

Victoria Street in Cambridge crowned Best Street

30 Oct 03:03 AM

Milestone achieved through effort, passion, and support of incredible customers

30 Oct 06:07 PM

Dame Hilda Ross paved the way for women to actively enter politics

01 Nov 10:02 PM

North Island and South Island displayed in garden wetland exhibition

03 Nov 08:41 PM

During discussion, Waikato regional councillors heard the operational cost of the weekend charter service will be just under $21,000 in total, which is budgeted to be fully covered by fare revenue.

Following on from the regional council meeting, Hamilton city councillor and rail governance group member Ewan Wilson said: "I'm excited this unique one-off charter service will provide bespoke tourism packages for people to explore two beautiful regions.

"I'm proud that through collaboration with our partners we have been able to create unique tourism packages which support our local hotels, tour operators and unique facilities."

The charter train will depart Hamilton on the morning of Saturday, January 16, arriving at The Strand close to Auckland's CBD 2.5 hours later. Photo / File
The charter train will depart Hamilton on the morning of Saturday, January 16, arriving at The Strand close to Auckland's CBD 2.5 hours later. Photo / File

Meanwhile, the date for the launch of the Te Huia commuter service is due to be decided by the governance group in November.

The date was originally pushed back from a late 2020 start due to urgent track work needed to be carried out by KiwiRail.

At this stage, it is likely to start in February once KiwiRail's track renewal and upgrade programme on its Auckland metro network has progressed enough that speed restrictions impacting Te Huia service passengers are lifted.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

Exploitation, bestiality images of young children found at home of 'loner'

OpinionGlenn Dwight

Glenn Dwight: Southland's Ranfurly Shield win more than just rugby

Waikato Herald

'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Exploitation, bestiality images of young children found at home of 'loner'
Waikato Herald

Exploitation, bestiality images of young children found at home of 'loner'

The 65-year-old initially claimed the images weren't for sexual gratification.

05 Sep 09:00 PM
Glenn Dwight: Southland's Ranfurly Shield win more than just rugby
Glenn Dwight
OpinionGlenn Dwight

Glenn Dwight: Southland's Ranfurly Shield win more than just rugby

05 Sep 05:00 PM
'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks
Waikato Herald

'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks

05 Sep 06:00 AM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP