NZR long-distance passenger rail timetable February 1983

This timetable lists all long distance passenger trains in operation during the autumn/winter season 1983. Those trains are, in a curious order:

• Northerner
• Wellington-Masterton-Woodville-Palmerston North train (primarily intended to service communities between Masterton and Woodville, but also connect with the Northerner at Palmerston North (convenient for southbound, less so for northbound)
• Wellington-Masterton services
• Wellington-Gisborne express
• Silverfern railcar (including the Wednesday "Blue Fern" operated by the Endeavour)
• Southerner
• Christchurch-Picton express
• Christchurch-Greymouth express

Cook Strait Rail Ferry services are also timetabled, but NZR Road Services timetables are not included here.

As noted, full buffet services are noted for the Northerner, Southerner and the ferries, with morning/afternoon tea service only on the Silverfern.  The Silverfern stopped in Taihape for a sit-down lunch for passengers willing to pay, but the Wednesday service stopped in Palmerston North and Te Kuiti for refreshments as well, as the Endeavour buffet car was NOT included in the service. 

At the time the Northerner still had two sleeping cars and operated daily, whereas the Wellington-Gisborne express was operated by AC class "grass grubs" (de-engined former 88-seat railcars painted green) being run into the ground, with refreshment stops at Palmerston North and Napier. Picton-Christchurch and Christchurch-Greymouth expresses had fairly austere, but recently refurbished 56ft cars, both with refreshment stops (Kaikoura, Springfield and Otira respectively).  The Christchurch-Greymouth express retained the Friday and Sunday evening services as well as the Monday-Saturday daytime services, enabling people from both sides of the coast to spend a weekend on the other side leaving Friday, returning Sunday.

The Wellington-Masterton-Woodville-Palmerston North train had a few years left to operate, but was primarily patronised between Wellington and Masterton, with the northern section having much fewer passengers by this date. It was obviously not a train worth catching the entire length, because the travel time of 3hr 50 minutes compared poorly to the Wellington-Gisborne express at 2hr 10-18 minutes, or the Silverfern at 2hr northbound and 1hr 56min southbound.