Celebrating over 100 years of the Main Trunk Line

Celebrating over 100 years of the Main Trunk Line

On 7 August 1908, after many years of planning and construction, Wellington and Auckland were finally connected by rail. The first to take the trip were a group of Wellington politicians, heading north to greet the US Navy's Great White Fleet on 9 August. The 680 kilometre journey took more than 20 hours and required several changes of locomotive. As the last section wasn't ready in time, it also meant slow and careful travelling over a 24-kilometre stretch of temporary track near Ohakune.

The line was officially opened by Prime Minister Joseph Ward on 6 November 1908, and regular services began the following February. In those early days, journeys took about 18 hours – it wasn't until the arrival of a new and more powerful express train in 1924 that this was reduced to about 14. Today the trip takes 12 hours.

Discussions about building a main trunk line between Auckland and Wellington began in the 1860s, but work didn't start until 1885. It was a further 23 years of exploration, surveying, parliamentary enquiries and hard labour before the line was completed.

Enormous challenges had to be to overcome to cope with the North Island's rugged terrain. Vertiginous viaducts had to be built over deep ravines, dense bush had to be cleared, and cuttings and tunnels carved out of steep hills. The mountainous terrain in the centre of the island was particularly challenging, and one of the most notable achievements was the construction of the Raurimu spiral, designed to overcome the steep climb up to the Waimarino plateau. As the King Country was still off limits to Europeans at that time, the government also had to reach an agreement with Ngati Maniapoto before the line could pass through their territory.

The heyday for the main trunk line was the period between the wars. The first day of holiday seasons such as Easter and Christmas were particularly busy, with up to eight trains carrying 3000 passengers between New Zealand's two main cities. In those days, everyone from royal visitors to members of the general public took the train as the alternatives were not yet viable – roads were still very rough and the journey took a lot longer by sea.

Passenger numbers started to decline steadily from the 1950s, with increasing competition from cars, buses, and aeroplanes. The rail service was privatised in 1993, and the unprofitable overnight service was axed eleven years later. The daytime service came under threat as well, but it survived, largely due to public protest. The government re-nationalised the railways in 2008.

Find out more – Rail New Zealand website

Find out more – NZ History Online website

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