Holy shit it seems I was too pessimistic. Good news! May we hope it is the precursor to greater news: Te Huia being put on a permanent footing and re-equipped with modern trainsets rather than 40–50yo diesel locos and carriages refurbished to within an inch of their life

Great news: The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi board has agreed to extend the trial of the Hamilton-to-Auckland train Te Huia trial to June 2027 at a funding assistance rate of 60%. Its long term future will be decided next year through the long term plan process. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

#TrainNews: Supporters of passenger rail are set to gather at Frankton Station on Sunday for a “Stack the Station” rally, as a key funding decision looms over the future of Hamilton’s Te Huia rail link to Auckland. Via Waikato Times: www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

Kirikiriroa/ Hamilton folks. It would be great to have a strong show of support for Te Huia this Sunday 2pm at Hamilton Frankton Station. A key decision is coming up in a couple of weeks on extending the trial by another year and your support could help get this across the line.

#TrainNews: Darren Davis was lucky enough to be on the inaugural Mainlander train from Christchurch to Invercargill. So what was it like? Via Adventures in Transitland via @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-mainla...

I was lucky enough to be on the inaugural Mainlander train journey from Christchurch to Invercargill. So what was it like? Read on to find out … open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#TransportNews: From the opening of Nelson’s new bus hub to a new fast ferry trial and everything in between, here's what you might have missed over the break. Read now: open.substack.com/pub/nztransi...

This is the first time in 24 years that a scheduled passenger train has stopped at Invercargill Station. The station itself is in rough shape but nothing a bit of tender loving care can’t fix.

Just about to board the sold-out first scheduled passenger train between Ōtepoti/ Southerner and Waihopai/ Invercargill since the demise of the Southerner in 2002. Hoping this becomes a regular thing and not just occasional one-offs.

#TransportNews: Tāmaki Makaurau's City Rail Link is the biggie for a 2026 opening but lots of other public transport stuff is underway on the North Island. By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures In Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/whats-comi...

A sadly all too rare experience of a passenger train at Timaru. I’m on the inaugural Mainlander train journey from Ōtautahi/ Christchurch to Ōtepoti/ Dunedin.

My latest blog post looks at upcoming public transport developments in Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s North Island in 2026. Spoiler alert: It’s not just City Rail Link in Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#TransportNews: While the opening of City Rail Link in Auckland is likely the biggest public transport story of the year, there's lots more coming up across the motu. By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures In Transitland: open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

My latest blog post looks at what’s in store for public transport in Te Waipounamu/ South Island in 2026. Read on for more: open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

Lots of improvements happening in south East Queensland’s public transport network, ahead of the really big one which is completion of cross river rail. Good work by @darrendavis.bsky.social to document this here: open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

My latest blog post on the year that was 2025 for public transport developments in South East Queensland where I currently reside. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

My latest blog post looks at the weakest link of many public transport networks - wider regional connectivity with Metro Vancouver as a case study. Read on for more on this: open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

In latest developments for Te Huia, Waikato Regional Council is asking NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) for a 1-year extension of the trial at the current funding rate of 60%. The NZTA board will decide on this at its February meeting. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Today’s guest post is an early Christmas cracker! Enjoy this majestical roundup by the mighty @darrendavis.bsky.social of the good news about public transport across the motu in 2025🎄🥝🚊🚍 www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/12/16/t...

#TransportNews: It seems to be the season to look back on the year that was so here goes with a retrospective of key public transport developments in Aotearoa this year. Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-year-i...

My latest blog post looks back at the year that was in public transport in Aotearoa. There were quite a number of good news stories so read on for more on this. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

My latest blog post looks on the bright side of public transport innovations in South Australia’s capital. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#RailNews: Rail level crossings between Wellington and Palmerston North will need to be upgraded before new battery-electric trains can run on the Capital Connection. Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

An excellent piece by @Darrendavis.bsky.social on the transformation of Auckland’s bus network. adventuresintransitland.substack.com?utm_source=n...

#BusNews: One of Aotearoa's achievements hidden in plain sight is the huge expansion of Tāmaki Makaurau's frequent bus network, making it one of the best, if not the best, in Australasia. By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-freque...

Great to see Gold Coast light rail stage 3 really starting to take shape with 60+% of the track and overhead catenary in place and many of the stations well under construction. Should be fully open from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads by mid next year.

At the just opened Pimpama Station on SE Queensland’s fast growing Northern Gold Coast. This is the first of three new Gold Coast Line stations to open, to be followed by Hope Island and Merrimac in 2026.

In Brisbane developments, a pic of the beginning of the installation of the Cross River Rail Albert Street Station canopy. When I moved to Brisbane nearly two years ago, the station was still below ground level so it’s great to see it getting close to its final form.

My latest blog post looks back at a tough year for passenger rail patronage in Aotearoa but looks forward to a much brighter future.

Switzerland is “rich in something vanishingly rare in the rest of the world: common sense. This is most apparent in the way the Swiss get around…a model of sensible, sustainable — and yes, even enjoyable — transit. It’s simply the best transportation system in the world.” Via @taras-grescoe.com

Pictured are the mid to late evening country train departures from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Something we can only dream about in Aotearoa with our apparent obsession with covering our beautiful country with asphalt.

Stoked to be one of the Kiwi urbanists/ transit nerds on @brenttoderian.bsky.social list of urbanists from outside North America. There are rich pickings of great people to follow on this list so dive on in!

#RailNews: The Golden Triangle is home to 40% of NZ's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...

In my latest blog post, I delve into KiwiRail's emerging thinking on the electrification of the Golden Triangle linking Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#TrainNews: Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system? By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/making-te-...

It’s just over nine months until Te Huia’s five year trial comes to an end in mid-2026. There’s lots to be done to secure it as a permanent service between Auckland and Hamilton. Read on for what this involves. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

My latest blog post argues that we need to build the market for the new Tūhono battery electric trains coming into service in 2029 & 2030 by making better use of the existing Capital Connection rolling stock to improve services between Palmerston North & Wellington. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#RailNews: Aotearoa is investing $802 million in much needed new hybrid trains for the Lower North Island with a contract awarded to Alstom. Just what does this mean in practice? Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/all-about-...

#TrainNews: Alstom has been selected to deliver 18 five-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains. The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite. The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.

My latest blog post looks at a year in the life of Te Huia, the regional train between Hamilton and Auckland in New Zealand. Here’s hoping that the service becomes permanent when the trial finishes in 2026. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

Join me for a quick trip across the motu of public transport developments in Aotearoa/ New Zealand in the first half of 2025. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

#TransportNews: Like the Otago Gold Rush of the 19th Century, its 21st Century counterpart, the gondola rush, has come to town in Queenstown. What is it and will it work? By @darrendavis.bsky.social via @greaterauckland.bsky.social: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/10/g...

My latest blog post is my take on the recent proposals for urban gondolas as the solution to Queenstown’s traffic woes. Spoiler alert: I’m not a fan. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

Great news. Te Huia to launch Sunday service, meaning Aotearoa/ New Zealand will have a single regional train with a public transport focus running every day of the week. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3607...

In spite of the shouty headline, it costs vastly more in fare enforcement than is collected from fare dodgers. And all that enforcement money would be better spent on improving public transport services rather than fining the few who cannot or choose not to pay. www.1news.co.nz/2025/05/22/a...

#RailNews: A quick rundown on the state of the rails across the motu in the lead-up to the 2025 budget on 22 May 2025 By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-state-...

I love seeing a scheduled passenger train at Dunedin Railway Station for the four-day trial of a revived Southerner train. But this should be a daily occurrence, not once in a blue moon. #thefutureisrail

My latest post looks at the state of the rails across Aotearoa from Te Tai Tokerau/ Northland to Te Wai Pounamu/ South Island. Check it out. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

This is the first time a passenger train has stopped at Timaru Station since the Southerner stopped in 2002. I’m on the short-term revival of the Southerner but really wish it were permanent. #thefutureisrail

Fun public transport facts on Airport to city PT city centre connections (weekday interpeak with smart card): Christchurch - 3, 8, 29 bus, 8 per hr, $2 Auckland - bus/ train, 6 per hr, $6.25 Queenstown - 1 bus, 4 per hr, $2 Wellington - AX, 4 per hr, $8.76 Brisbane - train, 2 per hr, $22.30