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Kōrero: 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.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Neill Atkinson, Railways – Building the rail network, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/21378/new-zealands-rail-network-1880-1940 (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Neill Atkinson, i tāngia i te 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.