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Story: Railways

New Zealand’s rail network, 1880–1940

Choose year:

  • 1880

  • 1890

  • 1900

  • 1910

  • 1920

  • 1933

  • 1940

This map shows New Zealand’s rail network between 1880 and 1940. The length of the network peaked at more than 5,500 kilometres in 1953. From the late 1950s branch lines closed, and by the 2000s, there were less than 4,000 kilometres of railway lines.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Neill Atkinson, Railways – Building the rail network, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/21378/new-zealands-rail-network-1880-1940 (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 20 October 2010.

Comments

Confused
31 October 2023
Looking at your map of the rail routes in the South but particularly in northern Westland there appears to be a isolated section starting at Cascade Creek BUT Cascade Creek or more exactly Cascade Creek Camp is located on SH 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Please explain.