New Zealand Railways: an overview of the North Island Main Trunk electrification

The 410 km electrified section of the North Island Main Trunk traverses the rugged central region of the North Island of New Zealand (NZ). The author reviews the transport environment leading to the decision to electrify the route, the studies undertaken, the system and its implementation, and the economic considerations together justifying the project investment. Operating and route improvements undertaken concurrently to enhance the benefits of electrification are also discussed. The author concludes by discussing recent changes to the NZ transport scene which have affected the economic viability of the project and the commercial role of electrification for the future