Te Huia Day Trip: Chasing Trains, Coffee, and a Bit of Nostalgia from Auckland to Hamilton

DFB 7335 ready to depart The Strand with the southbound 9:45 Te Huia service to Hamilton. 4 April 2025.

In early March, we spent a long weekend in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. While it boasts a fast-growing suburban rail network and the highly anticipated City Rail Link - set to open in 2026 - we had a very specific goal: to ride the Te Huia train from Auckland to Hamilton, a trip long on my railfanning bucket list.

Departing from The Strand on a Rainy Friday Morning

The 9:45am Auckland to Hamilton Te Huia Service waits for departure time at The Strand Railway Station. An Auckland Transport AM Class Electric Multiple Unit rests in the storage yard. 4 April 2025. 

The weather was classic Auckland: heavy rain as we walked down Queen Street for breakfast. From there, we grabbed an Uber to The Strand Railway Station, the current terminus for Te Huia and the Northern Explorer.

We boarded quickly to escape the downpour, but not before I braved the rain for a snapshot of the train.

Te Huia Train: Connecting Auckland and Hamilton by Rail

Te Huia offers a good alternative to the traffic-heavy drive between Hamilton and Auckland, running six days a week with stops at Rotokauri, Huntly, Pukekohe, and Puhinui. It’s a long-distance commuter train that provides a comfortable way to avoid the traffic.

An information board about the native Huia bird, sadly extinct, in the cafe car. 4 April 2025.  

Before departure, I made my way to the café car to purchase our Bee Cards—used across several New Zealand transport networks but not on Auckland network, which uses HOP cards. For around $90, we had return travel covered. The café was well-stocked with hot and cold snacks, quality barista coffee, and even Te Huia merchandise. I bought a cup and playing cards to help with the trip.

Rolling Stock: Nostalgia with a Modern Twist

The Te Huia consists of refurbished British Rail Mark 2 carriages. They were originally built in the UK in the 1970s and imported to New Zealand in the 1990s. These once served Auckland's commuter network as SA and SD cars before being overhauled for Te Huia and reclassified as:

• SR (Scenic Regional) – passenger seating
• SRC (Scenic Regional Catering) – café car
• SRV (Scenic Regional Vehicle) – cab-equipped cars with onboard generators

SR 3285 just after arriving at Frankton Station. 4 April 2025.

SR 3285 waits at Frankton for its next service to Auckland. 4 April 2025.

Te Huia SRV 5893 ready to depart Frankton. 4 April 2025.

Inside, the carriages now feature Wi-Fi and upgraded seating and tables better suited to the approximately 2.5-hour journey. Hauling us along was a DFB diesel-electric locomotive, a dependable workhorse on many of New Zealand’s regional passenger rail routes.

New seating and table arrangement in an Te Huia SR carriage. 4 April 2025.

Internal layout of a Te Huia SR carriage. 4 April 2025.

Door layout on a Te Huia SR carriage. 4 April 2025.

Auckland to Hamilton by Train: The Journey South

We pulled out of The Strand at 9:45 a.m. sharp, cruising through the eastern suburbs along the North Island Main Trunk Line. The ride was smooth, and I noticed major upgrades across Auckland’s rail corridor since my last visit.

Passing Westfield, I saw the pedestrian bridge that once spanned the yard was gone which was a bittersweet moment, as I recalled the many hours spent on the bridge spotting DH working the yard, DX, DFT, and DC locomotives arriving and departing with freight trains, DBR locomotives on the port shunts and DC's and DMU's working MAXX suburban trains on the main line.

Further south, I spotted the new (to me anyway) EMU depot and work on the third main line, both examples of the large investment in the network over the last decade.

Before long, we arrived at Pukekohe, the new southern terminus of Auckland’s electrified rail network. Although Te Huia isn’t electric, the surrounding infrastructure is rapidly modernising with a new station and track layout at Pukekohe and new stations being constructed between here and Papakura.

After descending the Tuakau bank and passing through Pokeno, we sped alongside State Highway 1, sipping coffee and playing cards while watching the countryside slip by. After brief stops at Huntly and the impressive new Rotokauri Station (near The Base Shopping Centre), we passed Te Rapa Yard and arrived on time at Frankton Station just after noon.

DFB 7335 and the 9:45am southbound Te Huia service after arriving at Frankton. 4 April 2025.

Exploring Hamilton and a Minor Delay

With a few hours before our return, we Ubered into Hamilton city for lunch and some shopping. Our driver was amused we’d come to Hamilton just for a day trip.

Back at the station, I took more photos while my partner chatted with one of the train crew. Just as we were ready to depart, a minor mechanical issue—a faulty solenoid switch on a bogie—held us up. The train staff were outstanding, updating us via intercom and personally checking on passengers throughout the delay.

The northbound Te Huia service waits at Frankton station for its 2:05pm departure. 4 April 2025.

A Smooth Return

After a 45-minute wait, a maintainer from Te Rapa had fixed the problem, and we were off. The Locomotive Engineer was determined to make up for lost time. Despite hitting a few signal checks as we followed and EMU back into Auckland, we were soon back at The Strand— about 30 minutes behind schedule. 

Te Huia at the Strand Station after arriving with a northbound service. 4 April 2025. 

DFB 7335 readies for its 5:45pm departure to Hamilton with the evening southbound Te Huia service. 4 April 2025.  

Final Thoughts: A Must-Do for Railfans

Our Te Huia train journey from Auckland to Hamilton was an absolute highlight. The refurbished carriages rode well, the staff were friendly and communicative, and the coffee was genuinely excellent. Mechanical hiccups happen, but they were handled professionally. 

It was a shame the waiting room wasn't open at Frankton. Passengers had to wait under the platform awning for the train crew to open up the train. A dry and warm waiting room would have been a great asset on the wet and bleak day we traveled. 

For rail enthusiasts and casual travelers alike, Te Huia is a scenic, relaxed, and rewarding way to travel between two of New Zealand’s key city centres.

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🚆 Know Before You Go: Tips for Riding Te Huia

Timetable & Booking
Te Huia operates Monday to Saturday between Hamilton (Frankton) and Auckland (The Strand), with intermediate stops at Rotokauri, Huntly, Pukekohe, and Puhinui. Check Te Huia’s official website for the most up-to-date timetable and service notices.

Bee Card Required
Te Huia doesn’t accept Auckland’s HOP card—passengers need a Bee Card, which can be purchased onboard at the café car or online. Load it with enough credit for a return journey (about $90 for two adults at the time of writing).

Onboard Amenities
There’s a café car onboard offering barista coffee, light snacks, and Te Huia merchandise. Seating includes tables and generous legroom - a nice touch for a longer-haul regional service.

Departure from The Strand
The Strand Station is located near the bottom of Parnell Rise - accessible via Uber, bus, or a 10–15 minute walk from Britomart. Signage is minimal, so plan to arrive a little early if it’s your first visit.

Railfan Highlights
The refurbished British Rail Mark 2 carriages are a treat for enthusiasts, especially in SRV or SRC configuration. Expect to see DFT diesel-electric locomotives in action, and keep an eye out for infrastructure upgrades along the route like the third main, electrification around Pukekohe, and the EMU depot.

Service Interruptions
While generally reliable, occasional mechanical delays can happen - as I experienced with a solenoid issue on our return trip. Staff were excellent about communication, so just bring a bit of patience and enjoy the journey.

And that's about it.

The Clock is Ticking

DFB7239 and EFI DXC5212 lead 920 Dunedin to Middleton Freight through the old Bushey station site. 11/10/22.

Late last year KiwiRail signed an agreement with Swiss locomotive manufacturer Stadler for 57 mainline low emission diesel locomotives. These locomotives are expected to enter service between early 2024 and 2026.

With the introduction of the new DM class locomotives, the current fleet of DC's, DFT's and DX's will be withdrawn from service. While I understand the economics and the need for improvements in reliability, power and emissions in KiwiRail's South Island locomotive fleet, it'll be sad to see the older diesel locomotives disappear. They've given between 40 and almost 70 years of good service on New Zealand's railways and have been with me since I started railfanning in the mid 1990's.

With only a few years of service left, if you want to get some shots of good ole 1970's GE and EMD motive power now is the time to start. The clock is ticking.

Accidentally Creative

DFT 7036 leads 934 Dunedin - Middleton Freight our of Herbert. 2/12/21.

 

While heading back to Oamaru I managed grab a quick and dirty shot of DFT 7036 leading 934 Dunedin - Middleton freight out of Herbert at the Irvine Road railway crossing.

In my rush I went to change the settings on my camera from auto to sports mode and instead ended up with creative but overall it didn't turn out to bad.

And that's about it. 

My name is Southern Rails and I'm a railfan.

 

DXB 5108 and DC 4323 lead Train 934 Dunedin - Middleton Freight north on the main at Merton. 24/07/21.

Last Saturday I decided to chase train 934 as it made its way north from Dunedin towards Christchurch. At this time of year the sun sits pretty low in the sky making photographing trains difficult but it would be a good way to kill a few hours and an opportunity to get a good coffee. The best photo I got was at Merton with the sun almost directly on the nose of DXB 5108 as it rounded the curve at Merton with 934. 

After happily clicking away at Merton I decided to head north to Tumai to catch 934 as it crested the Tumai bank and rounded the curve before heading beneath the overbridge. As I got near the Tumai turnoff I could see a car and two railfans, cameras at the ready at the spot I was going to stop at. I quickly decided to continue heading north to Palmerston. Unfortunately the sun was still too low so 934 was covered in shadows as it passed through Palmerston.

With my chase now a bust I started heading home and that's when I got to thinking. Why didn't I just turnoff at Tumai and park up next to the other railfans? I'm sure they got some great photos from a tried and true railfanning spot, a photo I'd now missed. 

Why is it the majority of railfans don't advertise the fact we take photos of trains, we model trains, we read about trains and watch videos of trains. Are we embarrassed? Worried about what others think? Is being a railfan not socially acceptable? Or is it just me? Do other people happily share what their hobby is with others?

When I look back on the Timaru model train show, the hall was packed with people of all ages. While most of them were families I would say a large number were 'train geeks' as my kids would say.

Something to ponder the next time I'm out railfanning.

And that's about it. 

2020.... Yeah Nah.

DFT 7008 with DFT's 7132 and 7051 and a short 920 Dunedin - Middleton freight hold the loop at Merton after crossing a southbound freight service. DFT 7008 had not long returned to South Island rails after a few years working in the North Island. 11/01/19.

Hello blog. Long time no see! 

While driving past a train the other day I got thinking about my southern rails blog. Between family and work commitments and a health issue the blog had been long forgotten and I wasn't even sure that it was still 'live'. So logging on this morning I was pleased to find it was still around but with very little recent content! Considering the how 2020 has gone so far I'm not surprised. 

Between pandemics, lockdowns, travel restrictions and natural disasters 2020 has been a bit average. As I've been telling my kids, look around and take note of what you're living through. Your kids and grandchildren will be asking you about 2020, probably as part of class projects and history lessons. 

All these things have also made railfanning difficult so there haven't been a lot of photos of Kiwi Rails finest taken recently. Below is a few I have managed to get over the last year or two.

Enjoy!

DFT 7036 and DC 4755 departing Palmerston with train 937, a Middleton - Dunedin freight. 11/01/19.

 DFT 7008 and DFB 7239 crest the Tumai Bank with a Saturday morning 920 Dunedin - Middleton freight on a frosty winters morning in East Otago. This is a good catch for me with DFB 7008 being one of my favourite locomotives. 29/06/2019.                               

DXC 5229 and DFT 7036 climb  the grade to the former Hampden railway station site with northbound Dunedin to Middleton freight service 920. 21/08/2019. 

A very average shot of DI 1102 passing south through the site of the former of Hampden Station on its delivery trip to Dunedin Railways. DI 1102 had been leased to Dunedin Railways by the Christchurch based Diesel Traction Group as a back up for their DJ locomotives in what was forecasted to be a bumper 2019 / 2020 cruise ship year. 2020 and the corona virus had different ideas. Septermber 2019.

DXR 8022 leads DFT 7051 and DC 4801 through Herbert on 934 Dunedin - Middleton freight.

DXR's are extremely rare visitors to the lower South Island and only travel down to Dunedin for maintenance at Kiwi Rails heavy lift facility at Hillside. 03/12/2019.                                 

DI 1102 with a DJ and two Dunedin Railway carriages heads north along South Island Main Truck at Katiki with a service to Christchurch to return DI 1102 to the Diesel Traction Group at Ferrymead. This is a bitter sweet photo as it was one of the last Dunedin Railway trains before they went into 'hibernation' in March due to the downturn in tourism due to Covid. Staff have been laid off, rolling stock laid up or returned and the Taieri Gorge railway mothballed. June 2020.

 And that's about it.

Recent travels

Double DC's leading 922 Palmerston - Middleton freight along the East Otago coastline at Katiki. 10/7/15.

Hi everyone

After my last past I took a break from railfanning and put the camera away. Heading out the door the other week I saw the camera sitting there on the shelf and on a whim thought I'd take it along with me. 

Heading through town I saw 922 Palmerston - Middleton freight getting ready to depart the Palmerston yard with a rack of empty 'goldies'. I had some spare time so I decided to follow 922 for a little while. 

I grabbed my first shot at my tried and true spot near Katiki. With only a light load, the DC's at the front had 922 flying. I managed to make the south end of the Hillgrove loop and grab a second shot just as 922 arrived to cross 923. 

922 Palmerston - Middleton freight slows as it approaches the Hillgrove loop to cross 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 10/7/15.

Once again I was heading through Palmerston and spotted 922 sitting in the yard. The weather was nice and I had the camera in the car so I grabbed a shot. 

DC4755 and DXB 5137 sitt in the yard at Palmerston with empty 'goldies'. 12/8/2015.

Not much effort for this one but I might not get many more chances. Oceania Gold has announced the closure of their Reefton operations in October which will result in the 'goldies' being no more. So if you can get trackside between Reefton, Christchurch and Palmerston get out there and get your 'goldie' photos while you can.

Heading through Oamaru the other day I decided to pass by Oamaru station to see what was up in this neck of the woods. In the yard I found a blast from the past. A bitumen tanker on the back of a container flat. Now these tankers used to roam throughout the country during the 1990's. For whatever reason this didn't continue into the 2000's. Seeing this in the yard is a good sign. It means Kiwirail is winning back some the traffic it lost in the past.

The tankers are actually ex UC tar tankers that have had their bogies removed. Like I said earlier good to see these on the network again.

Its good to be back.

And thats about it.

Something out of the ordinary

DXB 5051 with an unidentified DFT / DFB with a loaded 'milkie' crawls down the west loop at Marton. 19/12/12.

So far the new year has been a rough one. We've recently had two deaths in the family. One expected and one very much not expected. To be honest chasing trains is the last thing on my mind so don't be surprised if this blog is a little quiet over the near future.

Just to keep things ticking over, I thought I would post something out of the ordinary for this blog.  I didn't get a chance to do any chasing around Marton, my old home town for obvious reasons but I did grab this shot of a 'milkie'.

As things get back to normal at home, hopefully the blog gets back to normal as well. 

Out chasing again... about time!

I finally got out the door on Monday and caught up with 923 as it headed south on the Main South Line. On point was a very clean DFT 7199. Coincidence or not, it follows on nicely from my last post on the DFT's.

DFT 7199 and DC 4133 depart Merton with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 10/12/12

After grabbing a shot of 923 as it left Merton, I decided to continue south and get another shot at Seacliff. Not long after arriving beside the rather tired looking Seacliff station shelter, 923 appeared around the curve and entered Seacliff station limits on the main.

923 passing through Seacliff. 10/12/12.

With another shot of 923 on the memory card, it was time to head home. 

Half way home I caught sight of a work train heading south. A quick u-turn and I was on the chase again. Slowed by a track speed restriction, I managed to get ahead of the train and make it to Tumai for a rushed shot of DC's 4640 and 4876 and their train of YJ ballast wagons as they headed back to Dunedin. 

DC 4640 and DC 4876 on work train duty climbing up to Tumai. 10/12/12.

And that's about it...

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I lived in Auckland. After 7 years I left with a wife, young son, a dog, two cats and a goldfish. Thats about it.
One of the good things about the place was the number of trains you could catch. Mainly subbies but even they were interesting for country boy. Other good things included Dennys pancakes at 4 am and the Waitakeres. Which reminds me, should do a station file on Waitakere station.
Heres a selection of shots taken between 2004 and 2007.

A MAXX ADC/ADL diesel multiple unit (DMU) cruises around the curve at the Parnell Baths. 12/01/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery waits at Morningside for its next service. A ADC/ADL DMU also waits in the background. Both units were based here for the day as the line towards Auckland was closed for duplication work. 19/04/04.

MAXX DC 4369 at rest in a Papakura siding awaiting its next trip back into the city. 08/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery pauses at Newmarket before continuing its journey south on the Southern Line. 21/11/05.

A ADC/ADL DMU stops at Orakei station on the Eastern Line. The skytower can be seen in the background. 24/03/07.

Two sets of Silver Fern railcars lead by RM 24 arrive at Newmarket with morning express service from Pukekohe. 21/11/05.

Railfans luck? A city bound ADC/ADL crosses a Papakura bound SD/SA/DC push me / pull me set at the Parnell Baths. 13/10/05.

SD 3197 leads a push me / pull me set into Newmarket. 21/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU leaves the causeway behind as it approaches Parnell Baths and its destination of Britomart. 13/10/05.

Spring is here. Time to chase.

DFT 7023 with 923 Dunedin - Middleton freight waits in the loop as DFT 7117 with 922 Middleton - Dunedin comes to a stop for a crew change at Merton. 28/9/10.

Spring is here. You can always tell when spring has arrived in East Otago. The grass grows like bamboo, the northern motorway out of Dunedin closes due to ice and the line for mutton pies at the McGregors tearoom disappears while the line for icecreams goes out the door.

With the coming of spring and daylight savings its time to dust off the camera and head out to see whats happening on the main south line.

To be honest nothing much has changed. Kiwi Rail is still doing what it does best, moving freight around this great nation of ours.

So now spring is here I'm hoping to get out abit more as work, study and having another young child in our house permits to bring you some average photos (you never know they might improve) from around Otago.

Watch this space.