The Tranz Alpine heads towards Otira on its way back to Christchurch. Currently down in the Otira Valley surrounded by the mountains of the Southern Alps.
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.