Topic summary

TranzAlpine

TranzAlpine
Islington
Templeton
31.9
0:19
Rolleston
0.0
0:20
start of Midland line
Aylesbury
Kirwee
0:38
Darfield
Waddington
Sheffield
1:00
Springfield
Kowai viaduct
Little Kowai Bridge
Tunnel 1
Paterson's Creek bridge
Tunnels 2 - 4
Tunnels 5 - 7
Staircase
Staircase viaduct
Tunnels 8 - 10
Broken River viaduct
Tunnel 11 (daylighted 2011)
Tunnels 12 - 16
Bridge 28 "Slovens Creek"
Avoca
Craigieburn
1:57
Cass
Cass River bridge
Bealey River bridge
Rough Creek bridge
2:27
Arthur's Pass
Bealey River bridge (East Portal)
Rolleston River bridge (West Portal)
Goat Creek bridge
2:48
Otira
Kellys Creek Bridge
Ricky Creek Bridge
3:07
Jacksons
Taramakau River bridge
Inchbonnie
Crooked River bridge
3:32
Moana
Arnold River bridge
Tunnel 18 (Kaimata)
Kaimata
3:48
Kokiri
Stillwater
Tunnel 19 (daylighted 2010)
Brunner
Dobson
212.0
4:30
Greymouth
Greymouth Yard

The TranzAlpine is a passengertrain operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail in the South Island of New Zealand over the Main South Line and Midland Line; often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes (see lists of named passenger trains). The journey is 223 kilometres (139 mi) one-way, taking almost five hours. There are 16 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase Viaduct elevated as much as 75 metres (246 ft).

The train has become increasingly popular, and carried 204,000 passengers in the financial year ending 2007. By 2016, passenger numbers were approximately 130,000 a year, but rising again after the setback of the Christchurch earthquake, and were exceeding pre-earthquake levels.

The TranzAlpine service was suspended in 2020 and again in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed on 14 January 2022.