SERVICE UPDATE
Train Schedules Extended to June 2027. Additional rail schedules are now open for booking through June 2027. Please review operating days and planned maintenance closures when arranging travel.
Operating Days
Operating days are confirmed to 30 November 2026.
Full cancellations – No bus replacements
Operating Schedule
Date Range Service
1 Sep 2025 – 26 Apr 2026 7 days a week
27 Apr 2026 – 30 Aug 2026 Not operating
1 Sep 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 (TBC) 7 days a week
Note: The Coastal Pacific does not operate on Christmas Day.
Operating Periods
Note: The TranzAlpine does not operate on Christmas Day.
Full cancellations – No bus replacements
Onboard Infotainment App
Audio commentary is now delivered through the Great Journeys New Zealand app. Passengers should bring:
Download the free app before travel. Full content becomes available once connected to onboard Wi-Fi.
For further inquiries or assistance with your travel plans, please contact our New Zealand Travel Team.
Our friendly New Zealand Travel Team is available from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (New Zealand Time) Monday - Sunday, excluding public holidays.
For assistance and reservations during our opening hours, contact our New Zealand Travel Team by email or phone. To cancel a reservation, please email us at info@newzealandtravelteam.com before 72hrs or 3 days from the travel date.
Phone
You can call one of our English-speaking Consultants at +64 7 575 5049
Current New Zealand time:
Within New Zealand:
Reservations only with payment - 0800-143-669
Travel planning and all other inquiries - +64 7 575 5049
Outside New Zealand:
+61 1800 359 729 Australia Toll-free
+1 855 413 3019 USA Toll-free
+1 866 554 0304 Canada Toll-free
+44 800 0148106 United Kingdom Toll-free
The Capital Connection
The Capital Connection is a regional passenger commuter train service operating between Palmerston North, Shannon, Levin, Otaki and Wellington featuring air conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panoramic windows and disable facilities.
As this is a commuter rail service and reservations are not available. Tickets and monthly passes for this train are available from the railway station on the day of travel - Wellington Railway Station, Palmerston North I-Site in the Square or tickets only from the Palmerston North Railway Station or the Train Manager on the day of travel.
The Capital Connection operates one daily service each way - Monday to Friday. There are no services on Saturday, Sunday, or Public Holidays including Christmas Day.
Travel time from Wellington to Palmerston North is 2 hours.
For timetable and fare information concerning The Capital Connection (Wellington/Otaki/Levin/Palmerston North) train service - please phone KiwiRail on 0800 872-467 tollfree in New Zealand.
There are no passenger train services from Palmerston North to Masterton, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui or New Plymouth.
The Wairarapa Connection
The Wairarapa Connection is a regional commuter passenger train service that operates daily between Masterton, Carterton, Featherston and Wellington with air-conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panaromic windows and disable facilities.
The Wairarapa Connection is a commuter rail service, so reservations are not required. Tickets and monthly passes for this service are available from Tranz Metro ticket office - Wellington Railway Station, Featherston Railway Station or tickets only from the Masterton Railway Station or the Train Manager on the day of travel.
The Wairarapa Connection operates Five daily services each way (Mon - Thu), Six daily services each way (Fri) and two daily services each way (Sat, Sun, Public Holidays).
Travel time from Wellington to Featherston is 1 hour and to Masterton is 1 hour 45 minutes.
The Wairarapa Connection also stops at Woodside (For Greytown), Matarawa, Carterton, Solway and Renall Street. There are connecting local bus services from Woodside for Greytown and Featherston for Martinborough.
For timetable and fare information The Wairarapa Connection (Wellington/Featherston/Woodside/Carterton/Masterton) train service - please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand.
The Waikato Connection - Te Huia
Te Huia is the passenger rail service which connects Waikato to Auckland ( Strand )
Capable of carrying over 500 passengers per day, connecting Hamilton, Huntly and Auckland.
Te Huia runs return services from Frankton ( Hamilton ) to Auckland twice per day during the week, and once on Saturdays
Journey time is 2 hours 25 minutes between Frankton and Papakura. Connecting with Auckland Transport's Metro network at Puhinui, Papakura and the Strand - please phone AT Metro on 0800-205-305 tollfree in New Zealand