Overlander Rail Service Back On Track

13 March 08

Overlander Rail Service Well And Truly Back On Track

New Zealanders who said they would support the Overlander rail service between Auckland and Wellington if it continued have stayed true to their word.

Between July 07 to January 08 more than 26,000 passengers have travelled on the scenic train journey between the two cities. In fact for the 12 months ending December 07 each service carried an increase of 20% over the previous year which shows how much support there has been for the Overlander.

Toll NZ GM Corporate Affairs Manager Sue Foley says, "TranzScenic staff have worked hard to rebuild the service right down to improving the menu offered on board which has a true kiwi focus.

"With the assistance from well known Wellington restauranters Logan and Brown we have now got some great New Zealand based suppliers on board with Wishbone, Eve's Pantry for the great railway pie and Kapiti for the hokey pokey ice creams.

"It is not just the cities that have backed the Overlander but Toll would also like to say a big thank you to the regions that have got behind the service as well.

"There has been particularly good patronage from provincial stop points including Hamilton, Palmerston North, Taumaranui and, of course National Park.

"The service goes to its winter timetable of 3 days a week from May 4 and there will be repeats of the hugely successful "Steam Saturday" this winter with the Overlander being pulled by a steam locomotive between Feilding and Taihape. Taihape's new turntable has now made this possible.

"The gumboot capital has got right behind this and already Taihape has entertainment in place for the steam trippers who take the journey

"Competition from cheap airfares has been intense in the first 3 months of this year but the Overlander has reacted with the recent" cheap seats" campaign which has offered $49 seats to go anywhere between Wellington and Auckland.

"However if you travel by plane you just get to see the white cloud, travel on the Overlander and you get to see THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD, first hand, " says Ms Foley.

ENDS

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