Long distance rail fares July 1982

This leaflet was sent to me in early 1984, reflecting that the rail fares contained in it were static through much of the Muldoon era price freeze, which was lifted at the end of 1984.  So if you wish to compare to today's prices, you may select either July 1982 or June 1984.  I'm a purist and under the Reserve Bank calculator, the multiplier is 4.36x the prices seen on here based purely on CPI. 

What's interesting about these fares, besides the actual levels, is the micro-calculation of increments that are highly bureaucratic in origin, not market or even business oriented. For example, it is $46.50 to travel from Paekakariki to Auckland on the Northerner by seat, but $46.00 from Paraparaumu. There is no good reason to have different prices for stations so close together, rather than doing it by broad zones (given the marginal cost of having complex fare schedules compared to flatter ones) as if it cost 50c more for a seat to be occupied for a matter of 5 or so minutes.

Also of interest are the fares that ARE available for some short trips. The Northerner by seat from Wellington to Paraparaumu or even Paekakariki to Paraparaumu (the latter for 90c, not the 50c difference for the longer trip). Similarly, Papakura and Otahuhu to Auckland were able to be booked, even though there was and is a commuter passenger rail service.  Sleepers on the Northerner were only available or longer trips, the minimum from Wellington being to Hunterville, and from Auckland to Mangapehi, but if you were Porirua, you would have to go to Wellington to get to Hunterville, because Taihape was your minimum sleeper trip. 

The Silverfern had minimum trips from Wellington to Palmerston North, and Hamilton to Auckland, but the Wellington-Gisborne express sold trips from Wellington to Paekakariki (and from Paraparaumu to Paekakariki), and of course any short trip on stations in between, such as Dannevirke to Ormondville, and the many small stops between Napier and Gisborne.

Down south the Southerner was a true limited express, but the Christchurch-Picton express sold tickets between Christchurch and Papanui, and even Kaiapoi to Belfast. The Christchurch-Greymouth express sold tickets from Christchurch to Addington and Hornby.

The cheapest long-distance ticket was 60c ($2.62 in 2024 prices) available between Opoutama and Kopuawhara on the Gisborne line, Christchurch-Addington on the Christchurch-Greymouth express, Te Kinga-Ruru, Ruru-Moana and Moana-Kotuku all on the Greymouth line. The most expensive was a sleeper from Wellington to Auckland on the Northerner at $69.40 ($302.58 in 2024 prices), bearing in mind that was a single berth in a twin cabin that would have to be shared if you weren't travelling with someone else.

Wellington to Auckland having three trains had three fares.  By seat on the Northerner overnight was $49.70 ($216.69 in 2024 prices), by seat on the Silver Fern by day at $55.80 ($243.29 in 2024 prices) and the sleeper mentioned above. The Silver Fern was priced higher as it was seen as a tourist trip, on a more modern train (~30 years newer rolling stock), with complementary morning and afternoon teas, although arguably the large reclining seats on the Northerner were more comfortable.

However, the difference in price between the sleeper and the seat on the Northerner said a lot about the relative economics of the sleeper cars. Each sleeping car had eight cabins, twin berth, so a maximum capacity of sixteen passengers (two sleeping cars maximum per train). The day cars (oddly named for seated cars) had around 30 seats, so pricing for sleepers should have been closer to double the price of the day cars (plus sleeping cars both had an attendant as an added expense, who brought morning tea/coffee and biscuits to cabins, as well as making up the cabins between seat and berth configuration). 

For interest, the services that compare to today being the Silver Fern (Northern Explorer), the Christchurch-Picton express (Coastal Pacific) and Christchurch-Greymouth express (Tranz Alpine) have the following fares in 1982 compared to today.

In 1982 the Silver Fern was $243.29 in 2024 prices - Today the Northern Explorer starts at $219 (goes up to $519 for the full gourmet experience). Indicating pricing is similar, albeit for a much better service today (the Silver Fern stopped in Taihape for a sit down lunch). 

In 1982 the Christchurch-Picton express was $89.82 in 2024 prices - Today the Coastal Pacific starts at $219 (goes to $499 for full gourmet experience).  The Christchurch-Picton express had no on board service of any kind.

In 1982 the Christchurch-Greymouth express was $61.48 in 2024 prices. Today the Tranz Alpine starts at $219 (goes to $499 for full gourmet experience). Likewise the Christchurch-Greymouth express had no on board service of any kind.