Transport Minister Simeon Brown has opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders.
KiwiRail last month opened a new station building in central Auckland, for travelers to check in and relax before boarding their Northern Explorer scenic or Te Huia train journey.
The Otago Central Railway constructed the line between 1877 and 1921. In doing so, the railroad created an engineering marvel that required viaducts and tunnels.
Both the Labour government and the opposition National Party have now released major transport polices that put the emphasis on maintaining and expanding roads.
Current and former rail workers will join the local community on Friday, Aug. 4, to celebrate the centenary of the Ōtira Tunnel, which has linked the West Coast to the rest of the South Island for the past 100 years.