“The line in and around Tauranga is very scenic, and much like many of the other trips we do, most of the scenery you can’t see any other way than by rail travel.”
The route forms part of the “Golden Triangle” freight network that links the nation’s busiest port with New Zealand’s largest city.
Heenan said it was a great opportunity for locals to travel in their own backyard.
A heritage rail excursion will take passengers through the Kaimai Tunnel for the first time in 14 years. Photo / Supplied
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said the region was looking forward to welcoming passengers to a buzzing city centre.
“The Kaimai Express visit will coincide with the final weekend of our 18-day Flavours of Plenty Festival and several other city centre event activations, so it’s definitely shaping up to be a special day.”
Nathan said Tourism Bay of Plenty hoped the visit would pave the way for more rail‑based tourism experiences.
Tauranga local Kelvin Egaleton, who first rode a Glenbrook train more than 50 years ago, said a permanent passenger service around the Golden Triangle should be a priority.
“The benefit of rail for the city is cheap, fast transport and removing cars from the road. I have lived and worked in cities that have fast rail transport, and it is great.”
Advocacy group The Future Is Rail spokeswoman Lindsey Horne said the strong response showed a clear public appetite for a passenger rail connection.
“Tauranga hasn’t seen a scheduled passenger service since 2001. In those 25 years, the city’s population has exploded, yet our transport options have remained stuck in the past.”
Horne said the trip’s success should be a wake‑up call for decision‑makers about Tauranga’s rail future.
“This trip shows the infrastructure is already there, and the community is ready to use it. What’s needed now is action.”
The Kaimai Express train trip
The sold‑out service leaves Waiuku before heading east across the Waikato, travelling through Ruakura and Morrinsville to Waharoa Junction.
From there, the train continues towards the western portal of the 8.9km Kaimai Tunnel.
Passengers will spend about 10 minutes travelling beneath the Kaimai Range before emerging near Whatakao.
The train runs along the coastline into Tauranga, a stretch usually travelled only by freight crews.
Passengers will be able to take in the scenery from open‑air viewing balconies.
Once in Tauranga, two short local excursions will run to showcase the city’s rail network.
The Mount Maunganui Express will cross the Matapihi Rail Bridge and causeway, offering views across Tauranga Harbour.
It then travels through the fringe of Mount Maunganui and arrives beside the Port of Tauranga and Bay Oval.
Meanwhile, the Kaimai Coast Express follows the harbour through Te Puna and Ōmokoroa, then climbs inland past orchards and packhouses toward Apata.
The journey ends with crossing the Wainui River Viaduct, before reaching Whatakao.
Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.