Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand is an integral part of New Zealand's transport network, with a nationwide network of 4,375.5 km (2,718.8 mi) of track linking most major cities in the North and South Islands, connected by inter-island rail and road ferries. Rail transport in New Zealand has a particular focus on bulk freight exports and imports, with 19 million net tonnes moved by rail annually, accounting for more than half of rail revenue.
KiwiRail DL9020 on MetroPort train MP4 at Papakura, Auckland on 29 August 2011.
The first Parnell Tunnel under construction on the Auckland-Drury line in c. 1873. The line was originally started by the Auckland Province but completed by the central government.
Vintage Christchurch Boon-built Tram No 178 on the Christchurch Tramway.
DEV Aratere in the Tory Channel, June 2018. The rail ferries operated by KiwiRail under the brand "Interisland Line" connect the networks of both the North and South Islands.
Railways with a track gauge of 3 ft 6 in were first constructed as horse-drawn wagonways. The first intercity passenger railway to use 3 ft 6 in was constructed in Norway by Carl Abraham Pihl. From the mid-nineteenth century, the 3 ft 6 in gauge became widespread in the British Empire. In Africa it became known as the Cape gauge as it was adopted as the standard gauge for the Cape Government Railways in 1873, although it had already been established in Australia and New Zealand before that. It was adopted as a standard in New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Queensland in Australia.
JA1271 with excursion consist climbing the Opapa incline in New Zealand
Tram descending the Great Orme Tramway
Dual gauge track in Perth Australia with both 3ft 6in and standard gauge
Dual gauge track in Sakhalin Oblast including both 3ft 6in and Russian gauge