Te Huia
Te Huia is a passenger train service connecting the major cities of Hamilton and Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. The service is a five-year trial with subsidies from the NZ Transport Agency and Waikato local authorities. The opening was delayed because of COVID-19 and the need to replace some rail track. A new starting date was announced, and the service began on 6 April 2021.
As of January 2026, the service is being funded by the NZ Transport Agency and Waikato Regional Council up until 30 June 2026, with future funding and plans to be decided on, subject to approval and other initiatives and their progress, such as rail network improvements in Auckland.
Initial proposals
After the June 2006 announcement of the Overlander's cancellation, there were proposals to re-instate the Waikato Connection, including from Dave Macpherson, Hamilton City Council's Passenger Transport Committee chairman. The Overlander's cancellation was subsequently rescinded, eliminating the possibility of using its rolling stock on a new Waikato Connection, but other proposals have remained due to increased vehicular traffic volumes straining road capacity. These proposals include using the Silver Fern railcars as in the original Waikato Connection, though they were at the time under contract for suburban commuter trains between Auckland and Pukekohe. Proposals were floated in 2007 to reinstate the service. An interim proposal from the Rail Working Group in 2011 recommended further assessment of three options:This proposal addressed cost concerns raised by the affected local government organisations by making use of existing rolling stock and infrastructure where possible and avoiding use of the Britomart Transport Centre which, because of capacity constraints, was not available for peak-time arrivals and departures of such a service.
The proposal was dropped on a 2011 report in favour of extension only from Pukekohe to Tuakau, but that was also shelved. In 2016 the Transport Minister said, when starting work on a parallel section of Waikato Expressway costing over $2bn, "it will be some time before it makes its case economically".
A further study to establish a strategic business case was started in 2017. It identified the lack of a third line to Auckland and consequently, a journey time of over 2h 20m as obstacles. Regional Council's 2018 Long Term Plan consultation also includes a question asking whether Hamilton ratepayers will pay about $11 a year for a skeleton commuter service from Hamilton to Papakura. A paper for the same plan proposes a Hamilton–Papakura bus link, taking 1h 20m, 10 minutes faster and much cheaper, at an estimated annual cost of $54,000.
Re-introduction of service
The Sixth Labour Government promised commuter rail in 18 months to Hamilton and commuter rail to Hamilton and Tauranga. Hamilton residents want a passenger service right into Auckland. Labour MP Jamie Strange expected the service to be operating by the end of 2019. A 2018 Waikato Regional Council plan aimed to have more than 95% of peak rail trips completed in less than 2h 30m within 5 years, 2h within 15 years and eventually 90 minutes.In 2019, the unofficially popular name of Tron Express was announced and the start date further delayed to mid-2020. But Tron received fewest positive comments and was the least well liked in focus groups, so Te Huia was then recommended by two Waikato councils. In 2019, there was also discussion over the level of NZTA funding.
Detailed planning in 2018 put the start date back to March 2020. The delayed supply of new bogies from overseas delayed by two months the startup from March to May 2020. The service introduction was then delayed to November 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The need to replace some rail track in the Auckland area where slow speed limits would otherwise be required had meant that the likely start month has been put back to February 2021. It was later announced to begin 6 April 2021.
In November 2018, the proposed service from March 2020 was expected to take 91 minutes from Frankton to Papakura, stopping at Rotokauri and Huntly; and transferring at Papakura to another train to take 2h 29m total to Britomart.
In 2018 KiwiRail planned that the service would run Monday to Friday and Saturday, with a running time of 88 minutes, between Hamilton railway station and Papakura railway station, with stops at Rotokauri and Huntly railway station.
In late 2020, Waikato Regional Council published Te Huia's website. The new planned journey time was extended to 98 minutes, with intermediate stops at Rotokauri and Huntly. The fares are Adult $12.20 with a Bee Card, or $17 without. Cheaper or Free fares are available for Children, Students, SuperGold, and Accessibility. From 12 July 2021 the Hamilton-Papakura fares were $12 with a card and $20 without and the same fares applied to Saturday services to Strand. Fares in 2023 were $9 and $15 respectively.
Patronage
Months with significantly reduced serviceOn the first day up to 106 passengers were on the trains, but for the rest of the first week of operation passenger numbers on each train ranged between 12 and 48, with the earlier trains generally more popular than the later. On the first Saturday, passengers were standing and others were unable to join at Huntly. Average daily loadings in the first seven weeks were 153, 118, 222, 287, 123, 130 and 149. On 9 July 2021 it was announced that the Saturday service would from then on run to Strand Saturday services were still close to seated capacity in July, when extension to Strand allowed capacity to be doubled. After another lockdown, trains ran from 24 January to 28 February 2022 with an average of 83 passengers on weekdays and 60 on Saturdays. Te Huia has suffered from a decline, like other public transport, due to COVID-19. Late running was also a problem in early 2022, with 47 trains on-time and 32 late, due to speed restrictions, heat speed restrictions and delays in track tamping work. Although schedules have been eased, they are sometimes not sufficient. Due largely to Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle, 11% of trains were more than 15 minutes late in January 2023, but, even without the bad weather, 3 to 5% of trains were that late for most of 2022.
The new schedule and extension to the Strand, from 24 January 2022, increased patronage significantly, with record numbers in April 2022, an average of 265 passengers a day - an average of 240 passengers on weekdays and 353 on Saturdays.
Operation
On 11 July 2023, Te Huia was banned from entering the Auckland metro area by Waka Kotahi after two signal passed at danger incidents, forcing the service to terminate at Papakura. Waka Kotahi requires the locomotives are fitted with European Train Control System to operate in the area. Full service from Hamilton to Auckland Strand resumed on 6 August 2023, with one week of free promotional fares. 60 to 80% of services arrive on time.On 17 May 2024, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency announced that it would reduce funding for the Te Huia service from 75.% to 60%, commencing 1 July 2024.
On 10 February 2025, Te Huia ceased stopping at Papakura, and began stopping at Pukekohe.
From 27 July 2025, the rail service began a seven days a week service. A single return Sunday service was introduced. It departes Hamilton's Frankton Station at 2.45 pm and arrives in Auckland's Strand Station at 5.17 pm. The return journey leaves Auckland at 6.15 pm and arrives in Hamilton by 8.37 pm. Te Huia is now in its final year of trials.
Rolling stock
Te Huia uses two consists of four refurbished SA and SD carriages, each with capacity for 147 commuters and a café car. The refurbished former Auckland Transport SA and SD cars have been refitted into KiwiRail SR class.The two consists have two SR, one SRC and one SRV carriages; with an overall capacity of 300 passengers each way daily. This could increase to two five-carriage consists with a capacity of 400 passengers each way daily. However, KiwiRail's current restrictions limit the train to four carriages when being driven in push-mode from the SRV car. The restriction does not apply when being driven in pull-mode from the locomotive.
The three carriage designs are:
- SR carriage: 50 seats & WC
- SRC carriage: 20 seats & facilities & accessible WC.
- SRV driving carriage: 28 seats & 10 flip-up seats, facility for cycles, generator room, staff office. Driving carriage for use for push/pull operations.
- 1st set: SRV5893, SR5847, SR6061 & SRC5889
- 2nd set: SRV5993, SR3285, SR5801 & SRC3436
- 3rd set: SRV5859, SR5746, SR6015 & SRC5994
The service uses overhauled DF locomotives. The empty trains run to Otahuhu railway station and the Westfield marshalling yard during the day, and will be serviced at a carriage depot at the Rotokauri railway station at night.
As the safety case for the SR carriages expires in April 2026, a safety case variation is being put to the rail regulator to use ETCS equipped lead cabs, by replacing DFB class with 3 DL class locomotives, with a passenger conversion to operate with the SR coaches, which will have improved end collision protection.
Future
Upgrades are being built and several proposals made for further improvements.ATAP, Auckland's 2018–2028 plan provided for Pukekohe electrification, a third line from Westfield to Wiri and further new electric trains, part of up to $205m a year proposed by government for "transitional rail" spending, which allowed for the possibility of a Hamilton service.
On 3 February 2025, the line to Pukekohe was electrified.
In 2025 negotiations with the Waikato Regional Council were expected to result in Te Huia stopping at Pukekohe, and with a 42% increase in use of the Saturday service there were plans to add a Sunday service. Te Huia’s average 2024 fourth quarter weekday numbers were up 9% over 2023; and total passenger numbers were up 16%, from 17,361 to 20,089 over the period.