Airdate: New Zealand From A Train

Railways return to SBS next week with the two part series New Zealand From A Train.

There are three major scenic rail routes in New Zealand. The Northern Explorer running between Auckland and Wellington, the Coastal Pacific running between Picton and Christchurch and the TranzAlpine between Christchurch and the wild, rugged West Coast.

There is hardly a railroad network in the world which has been faced with such daunting construction challenges as the 4,000 kilometres of the rail network in New Zealand. This small island nation offers the scenic diversity of an entire continent – subtropical, high alpine, rain forests, oceans, volcanoes, and grasslands and the rail network runs much of it.

The Northern Explorer
The Northern Explorer starts in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, home to just over one and a half million of New Zealand’s five million inhabitants. Constructed on a field of more than 50 volcanoes, the field is closely monitored so residents can be warned if there is an impending eruption. The 12-hour journey passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand and is the longest passenger service route in the country. The route of the Northern Explorer required construction of numerous structures including long bridges such as the Mohaka viaduct and the Raurimu spiral to enable the train to ascend to the volcanic plateau.

Friday, 16 June at 7.35pm on SBS.