Overlander (train)

Former long distance passenger train in New Zealand

The Overlander was a long distance rail passenger train between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). It was operated by Tranz Scenic. The service was replaced from 25 June 2012, by the Northern Explorer. The Overlander replaced a previous service operated by RM class Silver Fern railcars on Monday 2 December 1991. Following the withdrawal of the overnight Northerner, it was the only regular passenger train on the NIMT between Pukekohe and Palmerston North. After being threatened with cessation itself in 2006, it gained significantly in popularity, partly because of increased tourism promotion for the service. It is also acknowledged as one of the world's classic scenic rail journeys. On 28 September 2006, three days before the service was due to end, Toll announced that it would continue on a schedule reduced from daily year round to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the off peak winter season, and daily in the peak summer and Easter period.

The Overlander's reprieve saw an interim refurbishment programme implemented, both internally and externally. Externally, the three former Bay Express cars and seven existing Overlander cars retained the Cato blue paint scheme of the Tranz Rail era, but with the new "Overlander" promotional logo introduced by Toll Rail on the sides in large white letters. Also, structural repair work was carried out. Internally, the cars were tidied up and seats replaced or reupholstered in some cars, new carpet laid in others. In 2008, the train was again close to capacity in usage of its just over 160 seats, and it was mooted that daily services be reestablished. After the New Zealand government re purchased the rail services in 2008 and renamed them KiwiRail, a rail upgrade budget was also announced that included funds for refurbishing the trains. The service then became seven days a week from September through to May, with the winter off peak May to September being Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Due to increased interest and passenger demand, the town of Taihape was reinstated in October 2009 as a stop on the Overlander, following the local "Stop the Train" co operative petition, headed by the Taihape Community Development Trust, Taihape Community Board, and the Older and Bolder Groups. Today with the Northern Explorer service, Taihape is no longer a stop.

In 2012, passenger numbers were again in decline. KiwiRail decided to replace the Overlander with a new service, the Northern Explorer, from Monday, 25 June 2012.

The Overlander was usually hauled by DC or EF locomotives with NZR 56 foot carriages. Originally the service was operated with six Northerner cars (originally single lavatory first class cars, later designated South Island Main Trunk first class cars, refurbished for the original Southerner Expresses of 1970), the Bay Express servery/observation/rear view car, and what was once both The Connoisseur car and TranzAlpine rear view/observation car and the two Northerner modular handbrake end mounted 11 kW generator FM class power luggage vans, painted in the dark blue InterCity logo with a 220 mm white stripe sandwiching a 100 mm red band, minus the parcels traffic. In December 1991 another modular van was refitted with a generator, and a Wairarapa Connection car with 32 seats to a newer design arranged alcove style and a servery to facilitate the introduction of a third trainset for maintenance requirements, the third set thus becoming a spare.

The former Vice Regal (Governor General) car turned Southerner full buffet car was refitted in 1993 and returned to the NIMT with 24 seats to a newer design arranged alcove style and a short buffet counter to replace the full length counter and 20 bar stools. A new "no frills" fare was introduced, using the remaining six Northerner carriages, a Southerner carriage and two Auckland excursion carriages between 1995 and 2002. With the cancellation of the Bay Express in 2001, the three panorama carriages from that train were utilised as a fourth set for the NIMT.

From December 1991 to December 1994, nine ex second class passenger coaches built between 1937 and 1945 (one the former TranzAlpine rear view observation car, one a Southerner car, two from Auckland excursion, three from Auckland suburban and two from Wairarapa commuter services) were extensively refurbished similar to the successful "big window" panorama cars used on the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and pressure ventilated Bay Express cars and made into three 3 car/1 van sets for "new" Overlander/Northerner services, each including a coach with a servery bar where hot food, snacks and beverages can be bought during the trip, a rear view observation car and a 49 seat day car. All nine cars were fully air conditioned.

Three modular vans, one from the Telecom train, one from the Sesqui 1990 and one from the Bay Express trains were refitted to newer designs, all incorporating new style 90 kW generators for increased on train requirements, as power luggage vans. An Auckland suburban van, the other of two Bay Express vans and the second of two Northerner vans were similarly refitted to serve this train.

As the Overlander and Northerner shared rolling stock, substantially better carriage utilisation was achieved, compared to having two train sets sitting unused for over 12 hours a day. On Wednesday 16 August 2006, the first air conditioned 42 seat rear view Northerner/Overlander car and its air conditioned 49 seat day car running mate, were taken to Hutt Workshops and stored, their bogies went under the ex British Rail cars for the Wairarapa Connection.

StationSouthbound times 1995Northbound times 1995NotesAuckland08:5018:45Papakura09:2018:13Pukekohe09:3417:55Te Kauwhatadiscontinued April 2005Huntly10:1817:14discontinued April 2005Hamilton10:4816:48Te Awamutu11:0716:25discontinued April 2005Otorohanga11:2616:05Te Kūiti11:4215:48Taumarunui13:0014:32ManunuiPiriakaKakahisteam engine turning point.ŌwhangoOioRaurimubelow the Raurimu SpiralNational Park14:0513:30pre 1980s/OverlanderOhakune14:2813:07Waiouru14:5012:46the highest station on the line (discontinued April 2005)Taihape15:3512:01previously had a dining room, and engines were changed (discontinued April 2005, reinstated October 2009)Marton16:2811:08Feilding16:5110:45Palmerston North17:1010:30Levin17:4409:53Otaki18:0309:33discontinued April 2005Waikanaediscontinued April 2005Paraparaumu18:2509:14Porirua18:5408:40southbound trains stop, northbound trains no longer stop (date unknown)Wellington19:1208:20