Tranz Scenic decided that the last Northerner nightime express train would run on the evening of the 12th of November 2004. This video shows the departure of 202 from Wellington Railway station on Friday the 12th November and the arrival of 203 from Auckland on Saturday the 13th November, which was about 2 hours and 45 minutes late, due to the late arrival of daytime train into Auckland the night before. This brings to an end many years of overnight rail travel in New Zealand.
The Labour Government seemed remarkably selective in its support of public transport. Neither Labour or the Greens were prepared to support the retention of this essential service. On the Northerner you could get on merry, intoxicated or with a kitchen load of goods. Even Prebble and Fay Richwhite considered it an essential service. But Clark and Rod Donald would not support it. The Northerner at night tired and happy was far more pleasant than the Overland which is a overcrowded day train.
RobertM408 3 months ago
Very sadly no more northerner I been two time so great
SD70MAC 4 years ago