The North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) is the main railway line in the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city Wellington with the country's largest city, Auckland. The line is 682 kilometres (424 mi) long, built to the New Zealand rail gauge of 1,067 mm and serves the large cities of Palmerston North and Hamilton.
The Stratford–Okahukura Line (SOL) is a secondary railway line in the North Island of New Zealand, between the Marton - New Plymouth Line (MNPL) and the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) Railway, with 15 intermediate stations. It is 144 km (89 mi) long through difficult country, with 24 tunnels, 91 bridges and a number of sections of 1 in 50 grade. Near Okahukura there is an unusual combined road-rail bridge over the Ongarue River, with the one-lane road carriageway below the single rail track. The line is not currently in service for rail traffic and is under a 30-year lease for a tourist venture. In July 2019 KiwiRail's CEO stated that reopening the line was a priority. Minister of Transport Michael Wood announced the government's 10-year plan for rail investment on 6 May 2021, which specifically stated that plans could include re-opening the Stratford to Okahukura line.
John Henry Davis Burnand, known as Harry Burnand, was a New Zealand engineer and sawmiller. He was born in London, England on 2 December 1850.
Mangaonoho railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. For almost a decade, from 1893 to 1902, Mangaonoho was important as the northern terminus of the NIMT's southern section; even a refreshment room was planned. The route north was delayed by construction of major viaducts, the first being Makōhine. To build Makōhine a railway workshop was set up just north of Mangaonoho. Unlike many other NIMT construction camps, Mangaonoho gradually declined after the line was completed. By 1911 the population was down to 167. Decline continued, with removal of the stockyards in 1973 and closure in 1982. There is now only a single line through the former station site.
Hangatiki railway station was a flag station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand.
Ngaroto railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, 3.42 km (2.13 mi) south of Lake Rd, 2 mi (3.2 km) north of Te Awamutu, beside the entrance to Yarndley's Bush. Lake Ngaroto is visible from the railway to the north of the station.
Ōhaupō railway station was a station located at Ōhaupō on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. It was the terminus of the line from Auckland from 1878 to 1880 and closed in 1982. Only a passing loop remains.
Taumarunui railway station is the main railway station in Taumarunui, New Zealand, serving the Northern Explorer service between Auckland and Wellington. Historically, it was an important intermediate stop with a refreshment room on the North Island Main Trunk line; the subject of the ballad "Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line" by Peter Cape.
Te Awamutu was a temporary terminus, serving the border town of Te Awamutu, on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) in New Zealand from 1880, when the line was extended from Ōhaupō, until 1887, when the line was extended south to Ōtorohanga.
Otorohanga railway station serves the town of Ōtorohanga, on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. The current station dates from 1924.
Te Kuiti railway station is a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. The station was important in the growth of Te Kūiti.
Hamilton railway station serves the city of Hamilton in the Waikato region of New Zealand. It is located in the suburb of Frankton, hence the station's former name Frankton Junction, its name for most of its existence. The station is a Keilbahnhof, located at the junction of the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) and East Coast Main Trunk (ECMT) lines. The station is served by the regional Te Huia service, which runs to Auckland via Rotokauri Transport Hub and Huntly railway station twice daily in the morning, with return services in the evening and by the 6-days a week, Northern Explorer passenger service, between Auckland and Wellington.
The Paeroa-Pokeno railway line or deviation in the upper North Island of New Zealand between Paeroa on the East Coast Main Trunk (ECMT) and Pokeno on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) was a proposed route with construction started but abandoned. The proposal has been revived in recent years as part of a more direct route between Auckland and Tauranga.
Okahukura railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand.
Puketutu was a flag station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Waitomo District of New Zealand.
Mangapehi was a flag station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Waitomo District of New Zealand. It was 5.89 km (3.66 mi) north of Poro-O-Tarao and 5.15 km (3.20 mi) south of Kopaki.
Kopaki was a flag station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Waitomo District of New Zealand.
Te Koura was flag station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand in the Ōngarue valley. When opened in 1903 it had sidings, a platform and a goods shed, The line was useable from February 1903 and goods traffic started on 22 June 1903.
Oio was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the hamlet of Oio, which lay to the north of the station. It was 8.29 km (5.15 mi) north of Raurimu and 5.64 km (3.50 mi) south of Ōwhango. It was one of the many temporary railheads along the route, with work going on from 1904 to 1908.
Pokaka was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the small village of Pokaka and lay to the south of Makatote Viaduct, the late completion of which held up opening of the station.
