The Northern Explorer train at speed through Levin bound for Auckland. The journey of 420 miles/ 680km takes approx 11 hours and is popular with tourists.
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.