I traveled the Tranzalpine a month ago…the Scenic Plus carriage has been upgraded (very recently) with every passenger seated at a table with linen table clothes and napkins. The cabin is stunningly decorated. The menu had three main selections and I chose the roast lamb - very nice. The entree and desert were very nice too. It is expensive but for me it was worth the experience. Service was great. The crew are highly trained - they are trained in underground rescue due to the travel through the amazing Otira tunnel. I would recommend doing at least once. Hey you only live once.
@ You are welcome. I wanted to share the pictures of the upgraded Scenic Plus cabin but cannot be done on TH-cam. Did you experience that the new cabin? The staff are great - they work hard and people do not realise the scope for their roles - much more than making coffee and collecting rubbish! They are highly trained.
I grew up in Greymouth and have many great memories of travelling on the Railcar on the same route as the TransAlpine. It was like a red bus on tracks. There was no on board food service but there were stops for refreshments at Otira and Springfield. Egg sandwiches and a cuppa tea in a chunky nearly indestructible NZR cup. My last trip I did in the railcar was as a teenager in 1981 and it cost about $14.00NZ one way which equates to about $43.00 in 2024 dollars.
Ah yeah , I remember the industrial coffee cups to as a young lad, it was a real treat for us to go on the train. Can remember going into the station and lining up for coffee and a pie or sandwich . Good times.
I've been on the Tranzalpine once; I quite liked it. Then again I rode it many times when it was just the railcar to Greymouth, and it was pretty nice then too.
Ah…the old rail car trip…loved it! I took it to Westport to teach, with bike in the luggage car. It’s the best way to enjoy the scenery…apart from the very long tunnel. It’s a shame our rail services have declined. We’re too addicted to our cars in this country!
Thanks for the video....The Tranzalpine was on my bucket list in 2022 having driven by car on an earlier trip to New Zealand. I liked the open viewing car for taking photos and fresh air. The Tranzalpine was however certainly worth doing once and at $151AUD, Greymouth to Christchurch, was good value..
The trip is great, but I’m not convinced there’s enough difference between the carriages to warrant the uplift. If someone is doing only one of the train journeys, then why not, I guess.
Having done journey a number of times (and also by car) it strikes me that it is horses for courses. Do you want to see all, eat and relax in all seasons? Take the TranzAlpine, you won't be disappointed. Esp. stunning in snow :)
We travelled on Scenic+ TranzAlpine 6 months ago we got fantastic service , went on the Bernina Express 2 months ago and got reasonable service but as good as the TrazAlpine, in fact we bought the return trip a week later and cancelled our rental car, that's how great it was. We are now planning a return trip to New Zealand to ride the comparable train from Auckland to Wellington.
@@PlanetPatrick You have a point about the no table issue (apparently now rectified), yes you can't beat the Bernina for scenery, although there are some amazing train rides around Switzerland largely unheralded. Great scenery and 1st class can be ridden on a daily pass for very reasonable costs. The Bernina run could done on the same line on a local train 1st class for a fraction of the cost, wonderful train trips to destinations can be had out of Chur and Interlakin (One to avoid is the name trains from Interlakin to Montreux). Trains in Switzerland have no food and drink, even the Bernina was only trolley service.
We did this trip in the comfort carriage in August. It had snowed heavily the week prior so we were hoping to see some snow lower down the mountains but it had completely gone. Being from NZ we opted out of the upgrade as it was far to expensive considering the price for the tickets in comfort. We stayed overnight in Greymouth and hired a car and drove north to Punakaiki. Made for a fun weekend.
Just a point to think about New Zealand has well over more than 4000 km of rail lines .bridges , tunnels and viaducts of some very difficult land forms not mention all the train stations and the train carriages and other infrastructure all this for a total population of 5.2 million.
Sadly most of the passenger trains that used to exist are all gone, those 3 mentioned in these blogs are the survivors. Only freight trains traverse the rest of the lines and even then, some lines have extinct routes, sad, as our railways and railcars are uniquely designed for the environment
@TheWhiteGyrfalcon it's a case of use it or loose it. I wish many more NZ people would explore and appreciate New Zealand rather go to Australia for holidays and spend there money there when it's so needed to spent here and help keep our railway going and other businesses also. It's a case of use it or loose it naturally.
@@TrustinGodaydays I can understand that, still makes me sad. As well as the loss to local tourists, jobs too, I know my Dad and many of his mates (baby boomers) all trained as apprentices and then worked on the railways, Dad a fitter and turner, he had friends trained as train drivers, other F&T engineers.
@TheWhiteGyrfalcon yes absolutely the Railways were a fantastic employer were anyone could be employed and have income with dignity ,we have lost a lot as a Nation.
I think your analysis is fair but the title was a bit clickbaity... I feel that Scenic Plus is a good product, they just need to make Comfort "worse" to provide a better differentiation. But those carriages, made locally, provide the best visibility of anything worldwide
@@PlanetPatrick We did regular class with cafe snacks, it was a pain in the neck going up to get food, it was multiple carriages away. Not to mention we spent over $100 one way. Next time we will do Scenic Plus.
The Christchurch railway station was opened in the the early nineties & is quite nice apart from being totally disconnected from any form of public transport. Unfortunately, their booking systems are terribly antiquated. People can book and pay online but seats are allocated on the day at the station. No wonder passengers get irate at the bait and switch with the seating. They should do away with the ghastly seating around tables & have conventional airline seating throughout the train. The Tranzalpine should have a separate cafe car. Most of the problems are symptoms of a cash strapped under funded operation.
Thank you so much, Patrick, I've never seen a video of this train journey before. In fact, most of what I've seen has been of the north island. The scenery here is just spectacular. The train looked very comfortable and the food delicious. As for the fancy tables, I'd much prefer to eat at one of the airline style seats to be honest. The seat head rests seemed very low for a train by the way. Looking forward to your coach journey!
Thank you for this...I had a not so great experience on this service and also heard Scenic Plus has now been given a new carriage with every seat now with proper tables...
@PlanetPatrick You were lucky...I had someone sitting next to me and I was in an aisle seat. Even the new carriage still has the 2+2 layout...Not the 2+1 they were originally going to do. Oh and they nearly left our bags behind at CHC. Train was just starting to depart and then we stopped abruptly and watched in horror as a panicking attendant was hastily pushing our baggage trolley to the baggage car.
Mate I used to do that trip as far as Mt Whitebridge to go for a bush bash it cost about $10 that was 40years ago and as far as refreshments go you got meat pie and was served on industrial NZR cups and plates that were indestructible,
We did Greymouth to Christchurch last year and thoroughly enjoyed it the commentary was extremely interesting and the scenery stunning as you get to see a lot that you don't see from the road. This year we drove across Arthur's pass and were blessed as when we left Westport all the way to past Greymouth the weather was damp and overcast but as we approached Arthur's pass the sun came out, it had snowed the night before so everything was white but the roads were clear,there was very little traffic and our hire car had been upgraded to a luxury suv. It was a truly memorable experience.
Thank you Patrick. I'm a Kiwi who has been from Christchurch to Greymouth by car and most of the way by motorbike. I thoroughly enjoyed taking the journey with you by train and feel you have been most kind to our humble country. It has been an absolute pleasure spending these past 18.27 minutes with you so let me give you a big man hug!! 🤗
We did this trip when they were gearing up again post-covid and the "plus" option wasn't available anyway, although the trip was considerably cheaper than current prices. However, it was two days after a substantial snowfall, so the views were absolutely amazing
We from Christchurch used to like the old railway station with the thick cups and saucers with the RNZ logo on them, and they served good strong pots of tea and the best beef mince pies with mashed potatoes and gravy and peas.......I used to like the overnight journey to Dunedin when the train wasn't too full and we could stretch out on our seats and sleep.
I drove a tour coach over this route some years ago, while my passengers used ths train . At everyday 0train stop, I beat the train. At the Arthurs Pass village 😅 station, I invited my passengers to leave the train and join me in driving over the Arthurs Pass. Some did whilst others stayed on the train, which then entered the 8km long Otira tunnel. The train passengers saw nothing except a dark tunnel, while my passengers enjoyed spectacular views amongst the high peaks - we even had a photo stop at the top. We still beat the train to Otira, and my passengers opted to stay on the bus rather than join the train again. That says it all.
Thank you for the review. I live in Christchurch, but I am booked to go on the Northern Explorer in the Scenic Plus carriage next June. It has been good to see what the carriages look like in reality.
Ha ha - knew I couldn't trust your judgment when you said you were in "charming" Christchurch! Fwiw I loved the Tranzalpine, way better than driving with the large windows etc.
Don't waste your money on the Tranzalpine. What all reviewers fail to mention or don't understand is that the trip by road is far more scenic, the highlight being the drive over Arthurs Pass and through the Otira gorge. The tranzalpine misses these scenic features as it is in the Otira tunnel. Another negative is that the seating in NZ carriages are two cramped and should be 2 x 1 across as the carriages are narrower than most standard gauge carriages. (NZ is a narrow gauge system). Before you all jump on me for being negative not only have I driven the road route many times I when I lived in NZ but I was also a train driver in NZ and have driven a lot of the rail route many times. My advise is to rent a car.
What most reviewers don’t tell is, this is a trip for train enthusiasts. The next trip I want to do is the coastal from Christchurch to Picton, which you can also do by car, but who wants to do that when you can go by train, yesss.
I’ve done this both ways too. We got unlucky weather on the train version so couldn’t see some of those beautiful Kaikoura views. But that could happen by car or by train.
If you are doing a day trip between Christchurch and Greymouth travel by train one way and return by coach or vica versa. Yes the current AK class can have 3 abreast (2 aisle 1) seating.
@@PlanetPatrick We were looking at getting to Picton and going on the mail boat run as part of the experience. Then, that’s one more off the bucket list…
We have done the drive through Arthur's pass, very scenic, but as a driver, i couldn't fully appreciate the scenery. We will try the rail trip next time. The train from Dunedin to Middlemarch through the Tieri gorge is a must!
As a Kiwi what is such a shame, is the 3 train itineraries you travelled are all that remain of passenger train routes. Used to be far more, most got shut down and now freight trains use what remains. Traveling by train used to be a Kiwi tradition and preferred method of travel. Have heard many stories of relatives travelling all over NZ my train. As for myself i have done the North Island route a few times, the "cork screw" is awesome
The TranzAlpine now has the new dedicated Scenic Plus carriage with the fancy table settings. Like Patrick I was disappointed with the 'airline' style seating of the 'Scenic' AK carriages with 'economy class' table presentation and I wasn't the only one. New new dedicated Scenic Plus carriages are now available on the Coastal Pacific train between Christchurch and Picton and the Northern Explorer train between Auckland and Wellington.
@@PlanetPatrick - Here is the promotional video of the new AKP (Scenic Plus) carriage - th-cam.com/video/lXRTHbvXdGk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=o7oyVHrVPcfBcHb3 The fare for Scenic Plus from Auckland to Wellington v/v starts from NZ$499.00 per person one way depending on the day of travel. As mentioned I will be travelling from Auckland to Wellington in Scenic Plus in the new AKP carriage next month. I will let you know what the experience is like. I have already mentioned to Tracey Goodall after bad experience with Scenic Plus on the TranzAlpine train about the 2+2 seating layout stating that it should have been 2+1 layout.
Excellent video. Thanks! So who got to sit in the posh dining room car experience? I am guessing that if you were 'lucky enough' to score a seat in the dining car you would be obliged to sit next to and opposite random strangers, right? What is better: your own private seat (with drop down table) or posh seat with three other people that you may not know? Please explain. Paul in Oz.
@@PlanetPatrick so was the dining car optional? That is you went there if you chose to have a meal in comfort (instead of at your seat) or were the seats assigned reservations?
Firstly the station was built due to the powerful earthquakes we have endured. Our city was destroyed including our stunning railway station and the central city. It also financially crippled us with 1000s of huge aftershocks. Our city is still rebuilding our core of services and infrastructure. Aftershocks kept flattening us over and over. We are managing but limping along due to the rebuild costs. It has cost over $40 billion to get us where we are now.
The current railway station was built and in use years before the Christchurch earthquakes occurred. The old station in Moorhouse Ave which was badly damaged and later demolished had been sold into private ownership long before the earthquakes happened. By then much of it had been converted into a Hoyts cinema complex.
I live in Greymouth and am always interested in the impression this journey makes on visitors. I travel (by car) over to Christchurch regularly and will never tire of the scenery.
I did this over 10 years ago. It was nice. Older style, wood carriage. Cost about 100 dollars. The scenery was lovely. But it's not a surprise that people are complaining at the expense nowadays. NZ does well to shoot itself in the foot with sky high prices for average experiences, as nice as it is there are much more beautiful places abroad for a fraction of the cost. Seems designed to keep everyone in debt. Tourism isn't returning to its pre Covid levels, maybe they've caught on to! Crappy really.
I've done this trip a couple of times, both winter and summer. Absolutely loved the scenery and being on the train with open carriage to take photos. Definitely worth it!
@ Well, the current government here is using austerity to "correct " the economy and the transport minister seems all for trucks. We still have neo liberal economics in play and there's global warming to contend with, but want the roading type of doing things. They immediately cancelled a 3 billion dollar project for brand new large complete train carrying ferries for the cook straight. Cheap really and would be of so much benefit. New Zealand governments are always doing this. Getting substandard projects and compromising the future. The Auckland harbour bridge was proposed to carry rail, like the Sydney harbour bridge. Oh no, that's too expensive. It will reach capacity years in advance, they said. It was at capacity in 6 months from opening in 1959. Parliament was meant to have a second mirror image of the first marble clad building in the late 60's. Oh no, too expensive. So they build the hideous, but disliked building because of working environment, in the round- the Beehive.
I think of in NZ only one intercity passenger and freight rail company, at least on North and South islands: Kiwi Rail. Canada (the country I call home) has multiple such companies (although with Via Rail, as far as I’m aware, the only such company that crosses between any pair of provinces and/or territories).
@Mcfreddo Dead right,I can remember when trains ran up and down the country from Whangarei to Wellington and the length of the south island as well,and to places like Wanganui and Gisborne,N Z had several large railway work shops thru out the country,still the most efficient way to move freight. Just look at how the Americans do it and they are not state owned
When Scenic Plus was introduced I expected three across 2+1 seating around tables aligned with the window frames. Would have been more spacious and better views. Better to go in standard and purchase your own food and drink.
The original plan was for 2=1 seating but it was changed 2+2 seating. The new Scenic Plus carriages are now in serivce of all 3 'scenic' train services.
People are still blaming the government for rails decline,they forget that N Z rail was in private ownership for a period of and maintained certain was next to nothing,and the owners raided the coffers and the government bought it back again and the rich pricks that ruined went on to knight hoods, mates look after mates so nothing changes
Apparently NZ Rail was sold in the 80s and a few years later bought back - "one of the most disastrous privatisations in New Zealand history". Apparently it has been costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade tracks etc!!!
Exactly! NZ Rail was sold to Pylorus Investments Limited an entity that sold Tranz Rail (NZ Rail renamed) to the Fay Richwhite-Wisconsin Central consortium in 1993. The sale was completed on September 30, 1993, for $328.3 million. Fay Richwhite and other New Zealanders during this time made a fortune selling government stated owned enterprises!
Scenic plus gives you the food to your seat. Worth it. We had the cheaper tickets and still had a table but had to go to the food cart over 6 carriages away. After seeing this, next time, we would pay for Scenic Plus (although not having the table would be a huge loss)
Done it many times both winter and summer , loved it , great service , never used scenic plus cause I’m not pretentious , happy to go again , my only advice is don’t try to do it there and back in a day , better to have a night in Greymouth and go back the next day
We did Scenic Plus, after being offered an upgrade after booking. We loved it. Extra space, great food and a separate open air car. We're not 5-star or pretentious, we do most things 2-star and to a budget.
Awesome video and thanks for loading. Did the whole South Island in the late 60s. I was born in the 50s. Now some towns are for the billionaires and the tourists, pricey for people like me now. Cheers Ak, NZ.
My wife and I did it September 2024. Loved it. I spent maximum time out on the open air car. EDIT Oh wow, when we travelled, the whole carriage was full tables. Yikes, I wouldn't be pleased with an airline table.
The experience of going back in time, traveling on this train is unique. The people of today need to realise what past generations were grateful to have, transport of any kind. Horse and cart and shank’s pony was their only choice!!
I got to walk some of the track near Springfeild through a couple of the tunnels and over the bridge with the wooden slats on the side when they had the fire down there a few years ago, I was a firefighter (Rural), the supports for one of the bridges completely burnt through and was sagging. We scored a ride back in a High track (think that's the name) a truck with ability to drive on the tracks. Will never get to do that again, A bit spooky walking through a dark train tunnel.
The problem with the Addington station is that it has about 4 tourist trains a day & no public transport comes anywhere near. Moorhouse made far more sense.
Hi Patrick, thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the breathtaking views on the TranzAlpine - it is indeed a remarkable journey. We sincerely appreciate your honest feedback regarding the Scenic Plus class. We fully understand your perspective, and we regret that it did not meet your expectations. I am pleased to let you know that this journey has since been upgraded with our award winning Scenic Plus carriage, which exclusively features the formal dining experience we heard the call out for from our passengers. We hope you'll have the opportunity to travel with us again and experience this upgraded offering better aligned with the luxurious experience we proudly deliver on Scenic Plus. We are grateful for your kind words about the service and the remainder of your journey. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you aboard again in the future. Safe travels, and thank you once again for your valuable insights! ps: always great to have a fellow smoothie-enthusiast on board!
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you experienced the video in the spirit in which it was intended. I do hope to take the new carriages if and when I get the chance to return to New Zealand.
Thank you Patric for bursting a bubble of mine, I'm a 70yr old Brit, that thought if I decided to be a bachelor, I would move abroad, Canada my first choice, but also my first rejection, too Bloody Cold in winter, My Second choice, Australia, too many big(I mean Bloody Big Spiders)and I hate HOT temperatures, So even with the lure of the Amber Nectar, I decided to move East, A true Eden set in an azur Sea, But the Women in my, 70yrs of life have proved, the temptation, is a mans downfall,
All the seats on all three trains are the same. Far superior to anything on the present UK system. If I travel on the TA, I will make sure I am getting the seat I paid for. Being a local, and a railway enthusiast, I know my way round NZ trains. The prices go up every year. In 2018 we paid $79.00 for a basic seat Picton to Christchurch which was a special. This 2024/25 year the cheapest seat is $219.00.
It’s a gem of an opportunity but the service level is so low, it makes Indian train journeys look great. My group of 8 were horrified when we did this and demanded money back. Delays, missing carriages, breakdowns, poor food. I hope they sort it one day.
We did the Tranzalpine back in the 1990s. We're kiwis, we live in Dunedin NZ, and quite frankly I was totally unimpressed with the whole experience. It may be better these days but I would never recommend it to anyone. It's best done in winter, otherwise the 'landscapes' Mr Snotty talks about are all a bit so-so. The biggest complaint I had was, we had different seats on the return trip, which were on the opposite side, so we saw all the same views AGAIN. DAFT!
I did the trip many years ago in August from Greymouth to Christchurch. I was really looking forward to the scenery. BUT! It got dark around 5 pm so I saw virtually zero. 😳👎
I hope you put in a written complaint. Online reviews are helpful for other travelers too. Sorry you got ripped off. Looking forward to the coach trip video 😊
The snotty grizzly guy makes the same mistake a lot of people do. The two main islands of New Zealand are South island( the mainland) and North Island, not THE South and THE North Island. For example no-one talks about THE Tasmania or THE Australia do they?
Pronothall is the grumpy one. I think he’s wrong too. If anyone in my family was going to “the South Island” that is exactly what we’d say. It would be grammatically wrong to say I’m going to South Island. Same with the North of course.
Passenger rail here in New Zealand is way over priced. It's cheaper (especially for a family of 5) to travel by car. The stupid thing about it is people complain about the amount of traffic on the roads, nz rail complain about no patronage yet look how bloody expensive Passenger rail is.
Oh no another Kiwi with an allergy to criticism of anything New Zealand. It’s a forum where opinions are welcome Brendon. What part of that don’t you get. People like you make me cringe when I call myself a Kiwi.
A poorly titled video, likely to put people off and experiencing one of the greatest train trips around. The bizarre pricing of seats should have come secondary to the spectacular views that the passengers experience. Just my 2 cents.
Those making comments that driving is more scenic than taking the train always remember that the driver of the car isn’t able to look at anything
Fair point
Did this trip in April for our wedding anniversary. The most fantastic scenery, looking forward to going again, highly recommend ❤
Congratulations! A nice way to celebrate
I traveled the Tranzalpine a month ago…the Scenic Plus carriage has been upgraded (very recently) with every passenger seated at a table with linen table clothes and napkins. The cabin is stunningly decorated. The menu had three main selections and I chose the roast lamb - very nice. The entree and desert were very nice too. It is expensive but for me it was worth the experience. Service was great. The crew are highly trained - they are trained in underground rescue due to the travel through the amazing Otira tunnel. I would recommend doing at least once. Hey you only live once.
That’s great to know and thanks for sharing what sounds like a great experience!
@ You are welcome. I wanted to share the pictures of the upgraded Scenic Plus cabin but cannot be done on TH-cam. Did you experience that the new cabin? The staff are great - they work hard and people do not realise the scope for their roles - much more than making coffee and collecting rubbish! They are highly trained.
@@betteralone318 Yes rent a car and spend the money on Arthurs Pass stay and visiting the West coast
@ done that many times
My husband and I did it over a decade ago. Well worth it. Thanks for sharing your experience and safe travels.
It really is! Thanks for your comment
I grew up in Greymouth and have many great memories of travelling on the Railcar on the same route as the TransAlpine. It was like a red bus on tracks. There was no on board food service but there were stops for refreshments at Otira and Springfield. Egg sandwiches and a cuppa tea in a chunky nearly indestructible NZR cup. My last trip I did in the railcar was as a teenager in 1981 and it cost about $14.00NZ one way which equates to about $43.00 in 2024 dollars.
Well that’s a great story! I like the idea of stopping for refreshments!
Ah yeah , I remember the industrial coffee cups to as a young lad, it was a real treat for us to go on the train. Can remember going into the station and lining up for coffee and a pie or sandwich . Good times.
We did the TranzAlpine about 12 years ago and loved it. Awesome scenery on the way, and the viewing cars are great.
It’s a beautiful place
I've been on the Tranzalpine once; I quite liked it. Then again I rode it many times when it was just the railcar to Greymouth, and it was pretty nice then too.
Interesting!
Ah…the old rail car trip…loved it! I took it to Westport to teach, with bike in the luggage car. It’s the best way to enjoy the scenery…apart from the very long tunnel. It’s a shame our rail services have declined. We’re too addicted to our cars in this country!
Especially on those fast Vulcan 52 seater rail cars.
Thanks for the video....The Tranzalpine was on my bucket list in 2022 having driven by car on an earlier trip to New Zealand. I liked the open viewing car for taking photos and fresh air. The Tranzalpine was however certainly worth doing once and at $151AUD, Greymouth to Christchurch, was good value..
I think it’s still worth doing (I just would do it in regular class next time). Did you enjoy the driving version?
@@PlanetPatrick I drove from Queenstown to Christchurch which was spectacular, making many stops along the way.
I've been on it, Scenic Plus and it definitley was worth it, a brilliant trip.
The trip is great, but I’m not convinced there’s enough difference between the carriages to warrant the uplift. If someone is doing only one of the train journeys, then why not, I guess.
Having done journey a number of times (and also by car) it strikes me that it is horses for courses. Do you want to see all, eat and relax in all seasons? Take the TranzAlpine, you won't be disappointed. Esp. stunning in snow :)
I'd love to see it in winter.
We travelled on Scenic+ TranzAlpine 6 months ago we got fantastic service , went on the Bernina Express 2 months ago and got reasonable service but as good as the TrazAlpine, in fact we bought the return trip a week later and cancelled our rental car, that's how great it was. We are now planning a return trip to New Zealand to ride the comparable train from Auckland to Wellington.
If you get the weather, the views are great on that one too. The Bernina Express is on my wish list for this year!
@@PlanetPatrick You have a point about the no table issue (apparently now rectified), yes you can't beat the Bernina for scenery, although there are some amazing train rides around Switzerland largely unheralded. Great scenery and 1st class can be ridden on a daily pass for very reasonable costs. The Bernina run could done on the same line on a local train 1st class for a fraction of the cost, wonderful train trips to destinations can be had out of Chur and Interlakin (One to avoid is the name trains from Interlakin to Montreux). Trains in Switzerland have no food and drink, even the Bernina was only trolley service.
We did this trip in the comfort carriage in August. It had snowed heavily the week prior so we were hoping to see some snow lower down the mountains but it had completely gone. Being from NZ we opted out of the upgrade as it was far to expensive considering the price for the tickets in comfort. We stayed overnight in Greymouth and hired a car and drove north to Punakaiki. Made for a fun weekend.
A shame you missed the snow! That would have been fun.
Just a point to think about New Zealand has well over more than 4000 km of rail lines .bridges , tunnels and viaducts of some very difficult land forms not mention all the train stations and the train carriages and other infrastructure all this for a total population of 5.2 million.
A fair point
Sadly most of the passenger trains that used to exist are all gone, those 3 mentioned in these blogs are the survivors. Only freight trains traverse the rest of the lines and even then, some lines have extinct routes, sad, as our railways and railcars are uniquely designed for the environment
@TheWhiteGyrfalcon it's a case of use it or loose it. I wish many more NZ people would explore and appreciate New Zealand rather go to Australia for holidays and spend there money there when it's so needed to spent here and help keep our railway going and other businesses also.
It's a case of use it or loose it naturally.
@@TrustinGodaydays I can understand that, still makes me sad. As well as the loss to local tourists, jobs too, I know my Dad and many of his mates (baby boomers) all trained as apprentices and then worked on the railways, Dad a fitter and turner, he had friends trained as train drivers, other F&T engineers.
@TheWhiteGyrfalcon yes absolutely the Railways were a fantastic employer were anyone could be employed and have income with dignity ,we have lost a lot as a Nation.
I have travelled many times by train through the Midland Line route. The road has nothing on the Waimakariri Gorge by train.
That's good to know (for a future trip!)
I think your analysis is fair but the title was a bit clickbaity... I feel that Scenic Plus is a good product, they just need to make Comfort "worse" to provide a better differentiation. But those carriages, made locally, provide the best visibility of anything worldwide
Yes I like the carriages which is why I think that regular class, with cafe snacks, is just as good.
@@PlanetPatrick We did regular class with cafe snacks, it was a pain in the neck going up to get food, it was multiple carriages away. Not to mention we spent over $100 one way. Next time we will do Scenic Plus.
A city guy who tried to discover mother nature 😎
Our speed on the south Island is a different one than in the wide world..
Who’s the city guy? I’m from rural Ireland and proud of it.
you didn't watch the video did you.
The Christchurch railway station was opened in the the early nineties & is quite nice apart from being totally disconnected from any form of public transport. Unfortunately, their booking systems are terribly antiquated. People can book and pay online but seats are allocated on the day at the station. No wonder passengers get irate at the bait and switch with the seating. They should do away with the ghastly seating around tables & have conventional airline seating throughout the train. The Tranzalpine should have a separate cafe car. Most of the problems are symptoms of a cash strapped under funded operation.
That's not a perspective I'd considered - thanks for letting us know.
Thank you so much, Patrick, I've never seen a video of this train journey before. In fact, most of what I've seen has been of the north island. The scenery here is just spectacular. The train looked very comfortable and the food delicious. As for the fancy tables, I'd much prefer to eat at one of the airline style seats to be honest. The seat head rests seemed very low for a train by the way. Looking forward to your coach journey!
Glad you enjoyed it! The views are fabulous and improve even more on the coach to Queenstown, if that's possible!
Thank you for this...I had a not so great experience on this service and also heard Scenic Plus has now been given a new carriage with every seat now with proper tables...
That sounds a lot better (not great for both of us having done it!)
@PlanetPatrick You were lucky...I had someone sitting next to me and I was in an aisle seat.
Even the new carriage still has the 2+2 layout...Not the 2+1 they were originally going to do.
Oh and they nearly left our bags behind at CHC. Train was just starting to depart and then we stopped abruptly and watched in horror as a panicking attendant was hastily pushing our baggage trolley to the baggage car.
I did it years ago and I absolutely loved. It was amazing.
The South Island is stunning
Mate I used to do that trip as far as Mt Whitebridge to go for a bush bash it cost about $10 that was 40years ago and as far as refreshments go you got meat pie and was served on industrial NZR cups and plates that were indestructible,
It all looks a bit different now (the cost at least)
loved this train trip
Thanks Jane
We did Greymouth to Christchurch last year and thoroughly enjoyed it the commentary was extremely interesting and the scenery stunning as you get to see a lot that you don't see from the road. This year we drove across Arthur's pass and were blessed as when we left Westport all the way to past Greymouth the weather was damp and overcast but as we approached Arthur's pass the sun came out, it had snowed the night before so everything was white but the roads were clear,there was very little traffic and our hire car had been upgraded to a luxury suv. It was a truly memorable experience.
That trip through Arthur's Pass sounds stunning to do in winter (and no harm to have a nice SUV to drive it!)
Thank you Patrick. I'm a Kiwi who has been from Christchurch to Greymouth by car and most of the way by motorbike. I thoroughly enjoyed taking the journey with you by train and feel you have been most kind to our humble country. It has been an absolute pleasure spending these past 18.27 minutes with you so let me give you a big man hug!! 🤗
I’m all for hugs 🤗
We did this trip when they were gearing up again post-covid and the "plus" option wasn't available anyway, although the trip was considerably cheaper than current prices. However, it was two days after a substantial snowfall, so the views were absolutely amazing
I've had a couple of people suggest coming during winter, and it sounds like you had a great trip!
We from Christchurch used to like the old railway station with the thick cups and saucers with the RNZ logo on them, and they served good strong pots of tea and the best beef mince pies with mashed potatoes and gravy and peas.......I used to like the overnight journey to Dunedin when the train wasn't too full and we could stretch out on our seats and sleep.
That’s a lovely memory!
I drove a tour coach over this route some years ago, while my passengers used ths train . At everyday 0train stop, I beat the train. At the Arthurs Pass village 😅 station, I invited my passengers to leave the train and join me in driving over the Arthurs Pass. Some did whilst others stayed on the train, which then entered the 8km long Otira tunnel. The train passengers saw nothing except a dark tunnel, while my passengers enjoyed spectacular views amongst the high peaks - we even had a photo stop at the top. We still beat the train to Otira, and my passengers opted to stay on the bus rather than join the train again. That says it all.
What a fun story!
ok, for 8km out of a 140+km trip the train went thru a tunnel.
And you drive a bus faster than a train.
Cool.....
Thank you for the review. I live in Christchurch, but I am booked to go on the Northern Explorer in the Scenic Plus carriage next June. It has been good to see what the carriages look like in reality.
You're welcome. Some others have said that an improved cabin is in use on some routes - so hopefully you experience that one.
The Northern Explorer will have the new dedicated Scenic Plus carriage with the fancy table settings.
@@chrismckellar9350Thanks - I really do have something to look forward to then!
Ha ha - knew I couldn't trust your judgment when you said you were in "charming" Christchurch! Fwiw I loved the Tranzalpine, way better than driving with the large windows etc.
It’s charming to someone who’s never been there before 😻
Don't waste your money on the Tranzalpine. What all reviewers fail to mention or don't understand is that the trip by road is far more scenic, the highlight being the drive over Arthurs Pass and through the Otira gorge. The tranzalpine misses these scenic features as it is in the Otira tunnel. Another negative is that the seating in NZ carriages are two cramped and should be 2 x 1 across as the carriages are narrower than most standard gauge carriages. (NZ is a narrow gauge system). Before you all jump on me for being negative not only have I driven the road route many times I when I lived in NZ but I was also a train driver in NZ and have driven a lot of the rail route many times. My advise is to rent a car.
What most reviewers don’t tell is, this is a trip for train enthusiasts.
The next trip I want to do is the coastal from Christchurch to Picton, which you can also do by car, but who wants to do that when you can go by train, yesss.
I’ve done this both ways too. We got unlucky weather on the train version so couldn’t see some of those beautiful Kaikoura views. But that could happen by car or by train.
If you are doing a day trip between Christchurch and Greymouth travel by train one way and return by coach or vica versa. Yes the current AK class can have 3 abreast (2 aisle 1) seating.
@@PlanetPatrick We were looking at getting to Picton and going on the mail boat run as part of the experience.
Then, that’s one more off the bucket list…
@grantdodd8597 I to have taken the transaction alpine several times and found nothing wrong with it, after all it's not the Orient
We have done the drive through Arthur's pass, very scenic, but as a driver, i couldn't fully appreciate the scenery.
We will try the rail trip next time.
The train from Dunedin to Middlemarch through the Tieri gorge is a must!
That is very definitely now on my list for next visit!
Wish I could do it again! My only fault was the crowded open carriage, they would not move or let anyone else in to get some photos
Yes this did happen quite a bit on the very scenic parts.
One person's personal opinion is just that, a personal opinion,Me loved it,but that's my opinion,
We are both welcome to have them!
As a Kiwi what is such a shame, is the 3 train itineraries you travelled are all that remain of passenger train routes. Used to be far more, most got shut down and now freight trains use what remains. Traveling by train used to be a Kiwi tradition and preferred method of travel. Have heard many stories of relatives travelling all over NZ my train. As for myself i have done the North Island route a few times, the "cork screw" is awesome
I love to travel by rail as well and it’s the same story in my own country, Ireland, which once had extensive tracks and routes which are long gone
The TranzAlpine now has the new dedicated Scenic Plus carriage with the fancy table settings. Like Patrick I was disappointed with the 'airline' style seating of the 'Scenic' AK carriages with 'economy class' table presentation and I wasn't the only one. New new dedicated Scenic Plus carriages are now available on the Coastal Pacific train between Christchurch and Picton and the Northern Explorer train between Auckland and Wellington.
I'll be saving up to come back and try the new fancier option!
@@PlanetPatrick - Here is the promotional video of the new AKP (Scenic Plus) carriage - th-cam.com/video/lXRTHbvXdGk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=o7oyVHrVPcfBcHb3
The fare for Scenic Plus from Auckland to Wellington v/v starts from NZ$499.00 per person one way depending on the day of travel.
As mentioned I will be travelling from Auckland to Wellington in Scenic Plus in the new AKP carriage next month. I will let you know what the experience is like.
I have already mentioned to Tracey Goodall after bad experience with Scenic Plus on the TranzAlpine train about the 2+2 seating layout stating that it should have been 2+1 layout.
Excellent video. Thanks! So who got to sit in the posh dining room car experience? I am guessing that if you were 'lucky enough' to score a seat in the dining car you would be obliged to sit next to and opposite random strangers, right? What is better: your own private seat (with drop down table) or posh seat with three other people that you may not know? Please explain. Paul in Oz.
The dining car wasn't ever super busy. I took the other 2 trains NOT in Scenic Plus very happily.
@@PlanetPatrick so was the dining car optional? That is you went there if you chose to have a meal in comfort (instead of at your seat) or were the seats assigned reservations?
Firstly the station was built due to the powerful earthquakes we have endured. Our city was destroyed including our stunning railway station and the central city. It also financially crippled us with 1000s of huge aftershocks. Our city is still rebuilding our core of services and infrastructure. Aftershocks kept flattening us over and over. We are managing but limping along due to the rebuild costs. It has cost over $40 billion to get us where we are now.
I understand and was aware of the terrible earthquake. I stayed in Christchurch for a few days about 20 years ago and again on this trip.
The current railway station was built and in use years before the Christchurch earthquakes occurred. The old station in Moorhouse Ave which was badly damaged and later demolished had been sold into private ownership long before the earthquakes happened. By then much of it had been converted into a Hoyts cinema complex.
Our visitors from Canada loved the journey. Picked up a rental car at the end and drove back to Queenstown from which they flew back to Auckland.
That’s a good idea and I bet they enjoyed that drive!
I live in Greymouth and am always interested in the impression this journey makes on visitors. I travel (by car) over to Christchurch regularly and will never tire of the scenery.
It is stunning
I did this over 10 years ago. It was nice. Older style, wood carriage. Cost about 100 dollars. The scenery was lovely. But it's not a surprise that people are complaining at the expense nowadays. NZ does well to shoot itself in the foot with sky high prices for average experiences, as nice as it is there are much more beautiful places abroad for a fraction of the cost. Seems designed to keep everyone in debt. Tourism isn't returning to its pre Covid levels, maybe they've caught on to! Crappy really.
That seems like a fairer price!
I've done this trip a couple of times, both winter and summer. Absolutely loved the scenery and being on the train with open carriage to take photos. Definitely worth it!
you’re very game to print this Chris. Any criticism of something New Zealand and Kiwis act as though you have suggested burning the flag.
I just drove from Greymouth to Timaru, 350 km and 4 hours. It’s a nice drive.
Oh nice! I bet it was gorgeous landscape.
New Zealand had a lot of track. Governments over the decades haven't supported it properly. Years of neo liberal economics has ruined a lot of stuff.
We had a lot of track and routes in Ireland that was progressively eroded too. Will it ever return to NZ?
@ Well, the current government here is using austerity to "correct " the economy and the transport minister seems all for trucks. We still have neo liberal economics in play and there's global warming to contend with, but want the roading type of doing things. They immediately cancelled a 3 billion dollar project for brand new large complete train carrying ferries for the cook straight. Cheap really and would be of so much benefit.
New Zealand governments are always doing this. Getting substandard projects and compromising the future. The Auckland harbour bridge was proposed to carry rail, like the Sydney harbour bridge. Oh no, that's too expensive. It will reach capacity years in advance, they said. It was at capacity in 6 months from opening in 1959. Parliament was meant to have a second mirror image of the first marble clad building in the late 60's. Oh no, too expensive. So they build the hideous, but disliked building because of working environment, in the round- the Beehive.
@PlanetPatrick nope.
I think of in NZ only one intercity passenger and freight rail company, at least on North and South islands: Kiwi Rail. Canada (the country I call home) has multiple such companies (although with Via Rail, as far as I’m aware, the only such company that crosses between any pair of provinces and/or territories).
@Mcfreddo Dead right,I can remember when trains ran up and down the country from Whangarei to Wellington and the length of the south island as well,and to places like Wanganui and Gisborne,N Z had several large railway work shops thru out the country,still the most efficient way to move freight.
Just look at how the Americans do it and they are not state owned
When Scenic Plus was introduced I expected three across 2+1 seating around tables aligned with the window frames. Would have been more spacious and better views. Better to go in standard and purchase your own food and drink.
Yes this is my view too. I love the route but don’t bother with paying the extra (some of the food was definitely the same as was in the cafe car)
The original plan was for 2=1 seating but it was changed 2+2 seating. The new Scenic Plus carriages are now in serivce of all 3 'scenic' train services.
I hear this train every day in my town. I don't need to ride it though. I live on the Arthur's pass highway 73. It's always just there.
Gorgeous
Great vids mate enjoying your travels. Looking forward to the bus trip from Greymouth to Queenstown that will be a interesting video.
Thanks! Editing it as we speak
It takes 2 days to travel from Greymouth to Queenstown. At least 1 night stop in Franz Josef or Fox Glacier is required.
People are still blaming the government for rails decline,they forget that N Z rail was in private ownership for a period of and maintained certain was next to nothing,and the owners raided the coffers and the government bought it back again and the rich pricks that ruined went on to knight hoods, mates look after mates so nothing changes
Thanks, I wouldn’t have known that
What ruined our rail was us…we found driving cars was too convenient!
@Sujowi yea I agree but you can't catch a train if the infrastructure is gone
Apparently NZ Rail was sold in the 80s and a few years later bought back - "one of the most disastrous privatisations in New Zealand history". Apparently it has been costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade tracks etc!!!
Exactly! NZ Rail was sold to Pylorus Investments Limited an entity that sold Tranz Rail (NZ Rail renamed) to the Fay Richwhite-Wisconsin Central consortium in 1993. The sale was completed on September 30, 1993, for $328.3 million. Fay Richwhite and other New Zealanders during this time made a fortune selling government stated owned enterprises!
Scenic plus gives you the food to your seat. Worth it. We had the cheaper tickets and still had a table but had to go to the food cart over 6 carriages away. After seeing this, next time, we would pay for Scenic Plus (although not having the table would be a huge loss)
Apparently there’s a revised cabin. I’d seek out a guarantee before booking though!
Done it many times both winter and summer , loved it , great service , never used scenic plus cause I’m not pretentious , happy to go again , my only advice is don’t try to do it there and back in a day , better to have a night in Greymouth and go back the next day
Yes it seems like a massive undertaking to go both ways the same day.
We did Scenic Plus, after being offered an upgrade after booking. We loved it. Extra space, great food and a separate open air car. We're not 5-star or pretentious, we do most things 2-star and to a budget.
Awesome video and thanks for loading.
Did the whole South Island in the late 60s. I was born in the 50s.
Now some towns are for the billionaires and the tourists, pricey for people like me now.
Cheers Ak, NZ.
Glad you enjoyed it and I’d heard about the prices!
I did it 30 years ago before global warming, lots of snow. Listening to Sibelius' 6th symphony as well. Heaven.
That's a lovely memory (and I love a bit of Sibelius too)
My wife and I did it September 2024. Loved it. I spent maximum time out on the open air car. EDIT Oh wow, when we travelled, the whole carriage was full tables. Yikes, I wouldn't be pleased with an airline table.
You were lucky! I think it's improved since I took it.
My wife and I enjoyed it. One of the many different ways to experience New Zealand, at a reasonable price.
It’s a great country to visit
The experience of going back in time, traveling on this train is unique. The people of today need to realise what past generations were grateful to have, transport of any kind. Horse and cart and shank’s pony was their only choice!!
That certainly gives it another perspective
Cheers Patrick, a grand journey. I especially enjoyed Greymouth when I was there.
Yes, it's not somewhere I might have ended up visiting normally and it's charming!
As a NZ citizen. I agree with u Daniel. We should all be equal. Maori people should simply accept this.
Not sure who Daniel is - you may need to respond directly to someone's comment for them to know you've provided a response.
You're on the wrong thread bud - there's a separate one for racists - it's called `The Bin'.
I got to walk some of the track near Springfeild through a couple of the tunnels and over the bridge with the wooden slats on the side when they had the fire down there a few years ago, I was a firefighter (Rural), the supports for one of the bridges completely burnt through and was sagging. We scored a ride back in a High track (think that's the name) a truck with ability to drive on the tracks. Will never get to do that again, A bit spooky walking through a dark train tunnel.
That’s a memory that I’d bet most people wouldn’t get to share - pretty special!
Last time I did the Tranzalpine it cost $47 and departed from the old Moorhouse Ave station
Oh wow! Prices have gone up!
😂 what decade was that? The good old days
Last time I did the transalpine, you were allowed to smoke in the open car...
The problem with the Addington station is that it has about 4 tourist trains a day & no public transport comes anywhere near. Moorhouse made far more sense.
@@RM-ti8nf 1988
same here except it cost less. I carried my rifle and pack onboard and got off at Greyneys shelter in Arthurs Pass...good service
Hi Patrick, thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the breathtaking views on the TranzAlpine - it is indeed a remarkable journey.
We sincerely appreciate your honest feedback regarding the Scenic Plus class. We fully understand your perspective, and we regret that it did not meet your expectations. I am pleased to let you know that this journey has since been upgraded with our award winning Scenic Plus carriage, which exclusively features the formal dining experience we heard the call out for from our passengers. We hope you'll have the opportunity to travel with us again and experience this upgraded offering better aligned with the luxurious experience we proudly deliver on Scenic Plus.
We are grateful for your kind words about the service and the remainder of your journey. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you aboard again in the future. Safe travels, and thank you once again for your valuable insights!
ps: always great to have a fellow smoothie-enthusiast on board!
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you experienced the video in the spirit in which it was intended. I do hope to take the new carriages if and when I get the chance to return to New Zealand.
No wonder the train looks empty at those prices. Would it not be much better the charge less and have the train full. I scratch my head a t times
I took the other two main train journeys in the “regular” class and those were almost completely full.
@declangeraghty8176 depends on the season,sometimes they have had to turn people away
Great trip, did it earlier this year, totally recommended.
It is a great trip
Thank you Patric for bursting a bubble of mine, I'm a 70yr old Brit, that thought if I decided to be a bachelor, I would move abroad, Canada my first choice, but also my first rejection, too Bloody Cold in winter, My Second choice, Australia, too many big(I mean Bloody Big Spiders)and I hate HOT temperatures, So even with the lure of the Amber Nectar, I decided to move East, A true Eden set in an azur Sea, But the Women in my, 70yrs of life have proved, the temptation, is a mans downfall,
As a wiser man than me once said: "I can resist anything but temptation"!
Are you doing Taieri Gorge..?
No, but I'd love to do it!
Where I live, all the leaves have fallen from the trees. This was nice to watch - thanks.
So nice of you
Don't know what Planet Patrick is from, but he looks like a good night's sleep wouldn't go amiss.
Ireland. And sleep won’t get rid of age, I’m afraid.
@@PlanetPatrick Sad that.
All the seats on all three trains are the same. Far superior to anything on the present UK system.
If I travel on the TA, I will make sure I am getting the seat I paid for.
Being a local, and a railway enthusiast, I know my way round NZ trains.
The prices go up every year. In 2018 we paid $79.00 for a basic seat Picton to Christchurch which was a special. This 2024/25 year the cheapest seat is $219.00.
Oh wow that’s some change!
Did this trip nearly 30 years ago. Even allowing for inflation, my goodness is it expensive now!
It’s definitely a big investment!
Hmmm, might have to do that trip some day.
It’s well worth doing. Great Journeys says they’ve now upgraded the Scenic Plus carriage…
I did it and loved it!
The route is beautiful 😻
I think this part of NZ is more scenic in Winter.
It would be great to see it in winter
Did the same trip in a car, had to get my own lunch!
lol!
I loved that train trip
I did too. Just wouldn’t pay for the upgraded service again.
Great reviews, welcome to the kiwi classic, bait and switch tourist hustle.
Who knew? 😹
It’s a gem of an opportunity but the service level is so low, it makes Indian train journeys look great. My group of 8 were horrified when we did this and demanded money back. Delays, missing carriages, breakdowns, poor food. I hope they sort it one day.
Oh no that sounds like a bad experience
We did this two years ago. Wonderful !!!!!!
A lovely trip!
Nice and balanced review.
Thank you very much
Hate hate hate seats facing backwards ! As in life, wana see where I'm going, rather than where i've been.
Always good to look forward!
Back n the day they had a rail car service which soooo cool . . .
Oh sounds good?
a great rail journey!
It is great!
We did the Tranzalpine back in the 1990s. We're kiwis, we live in Dunedin NZ, and quite frankly I was totally unimpressed with the whole experience. It may be better these days but I would never recommend it to anyone.
It's best done in winter, otherwise the 'landscapes' Mr Snotty talks about are all a bit so-so.
The biggest complaint I had was, we had different seats on the return trip, which were on the opposite side, so we saw all the same views AGAIN. DAFT!
Are you calling me Mr Snotty? Thanks for watching my free video and upping my engagement figures with a bizarre comment.
Theyve got the proper scenic plus carriages now, so its a lot better
I’ll have to save up to return, but that’s great news!
I did the trip many years ago in August from Greymouth to Christchurch. I was really looking forward to the scenery. BUT! It got dark around 5 pm so I saw virtually zero. 😳👎
Oh no! That would be a pretty big spoiler!
Unfortunately I had crap weather! Driving rain and mist, so missed (pun intended) all the views😢
I had that on the Coastal Pacific. Didn’t see too much!
Pretty cool
Still a good experience
I hope you put in a written complaint. Online reviews are helpful for other travelers too. Sorry you got ripped off. Looking forward to the coach trip video 😊
Thank you! Working on it now
Them facing seats can be drag if ya opposite strange strangers. Some spend trip gawking at ya rather than scenery huh 😳
😂!
I think you would be better suited to travelling on an american Greyhound bus.
The snotty grizzly guy makes the same mistake a lot of people do.
The two main islands of New Zealand are South island( the mainland) and North Island, not THE South and THE North Island.
For example no-one talks about THE Tasmania or THE Australia do they?
Love that you called me grizzly. Have a great day.
Pronothall is the grumpy one. I think he’s wrong too. If anyone in my family was going to “the South Island” that is exactly what we’d say. It would be grammatically wrong to say I’m going to South Island. Same with the North of course.
I was born in the North Island in the Waikato.
Best train trip in NZ
It’s a fine journey which I’d happily take again in standard class
If the think the train food was good wait until you try a New Zealands favourite delicacy - saveloy sausages dipped in ketchup
I’m not sure you’ve sold it to me!
I am a local and cant afford the train to chch. Rip off
It is very expensive
Done it a few years ago, was dark 80% of the trip back so never again.
Tunnels or bad weather?
Enjoyed that so I subbed,
Awesome, thank you!
The Tranzalpine is nice but the drive is 10 times more scenic.
I’m hearing this! Might mean another trip is needed!
They are both as scenic but like all train journeys here are over priced and targeted too much to tourist
Long black with milk just ask for a flat white
I don’t like that much milk, but thanks.
Passenger rail here in New Zealand is way over priced. It's cheaper (especially for a family of 5) to travel by car. The stupid thing about it is people complain about the amount of traffic on the roads, nz rail complain about no patronage yet look how bloody expensive Passenger rail is.
I can see how it would be much cheaper for a family and lots of commenters said it was very scenic to drive this route
so who does get the tables . and how?
We could get no answer on who and why
None printed now. All info on internet.
Ive always enjoyed travelling on that train Planet Patrick. Keep your opinions to yourself.
Lol
Can't take criticism can ya brendon.
Oh no another Kiwi with an allergy to criticism of anything New Zealand. It’s a forum where opinions are welcome Brendon. What part of that don’t you get. People like you make me cringe when I call myself a Kiwi.
A poorly titled video, likely to put people off and experiencing one of the greatest train trips around. The bizarre pricing of seats should have come secondary to the spectacular views that the passengers experience.
Just my 2 cents.
You’re entitled to them, as am I
Great video but a much better experience in an old hire car from Rent-A- Dent….
Good idea for next visit!
This is scenic carriage, not sure why they gave you this carriage, I travelled on same for scenic.
I had, too, on the earlier routes.
Its also VERY expensive
I think that’s the main issue!