Northern Explorer from Wellington is diverted to down main through Papatoetoe in South Auckland due to track work. The train entered service in 2012 and takes about 11 hours for the 420-mile/ 680 Km journey between the capital and Auckland.
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.