Better Passenger Transport New Zealand has put together its wishlist for Hamilton’s Te Huia rail service, saying if it does get the green light to continue it could add a few extra options.
Better Passenger Transport New Zealand convenor, Hamilton’s Chris McKellar, said the recent ‘Stack the Station’ campaign held by Te Huia supporters “showed passionate support for Te Huia, despite naysayers misinformation, Covid, nearly two years of disruption due to upgrading of the Auckland metro rail corridors … and current government financial restrictions”.
“Te Huia, over the last five years, is no longer just a commuter train for workers and SuperGold-card users … but a major component in Waikato’s regional public transport network, creating a market covering workers, students, tourism, visiting friends and family, events, and disability travel.
“Yet it’s only scratched the surface of what can be achieved with improved services using Te Huia’s existing fleet of two train sets, including locomotives,” McKellar said.
He hoped the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) board would approve an extension to the service, “ but it would need to increase its passenger numbers”.
McKellar said once Auckland’s City Rail Link was fully operational, work needed to be done to rebuild passenger numbers by modifying the existing Te Huia schedule with three return services per day from Monday to Saturday, and two return services on Sunday (see his revised timetable below).
“What Te Huia has provided over the last five years is valuable information creating the necessary foundations for the Golden Triangle passenger rail initiative, being frequent passenger rail services between Auckland, Hamilton, Te Kūiti, Tauranga, Rotorua and Tokoroa.”
NZTA board members are expected to make their decision on the future of Te Huia when they meet later this month.
**Better Passenger Transport New Zealand’s Te Huia timetable wishlist:**
\* = current timetable
\# **(in bold)** = additional service
– From Hamilton Monday to Friday:
Depart 6.05am*
**Depart 9.30am (Monday to Wednesday)#**
Depart 9.30am (Thursday and Friday) *
Depart 2.05pm*
– From Hamilton on Saturday:
Depart 7.30am *
Depart 9am *
**Depart 2pm #**
– From Hamilton on Sunday:
**Depart 10am#**
Depart 2.45pm *
– From Auckland Monday to Friday:
Depart 9.45am *
**Depart 3.25pm (Monday to Wednesday)#**
Depart 3.25pm (Thursday and Friday) *
Depart 5.45pm *
– From Auckland on Saturday:
**Depart 11am #**
**Depart 1.30pm #**
Depart 5.30pm*
– From Auckland on Sunday:
**Depart 11.30am#**
Depart 6.15pm *
Published in the [Waikato Times on 13 February 2026](https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360948396/wishlist-te-huias-timetable-adds-more-options) \
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For further reading concerning the points raised in this opinion –
* [Future of passenger rail in New Zealand is regional rail](https://publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/the-future-of-passenger-rail-in-new-zealand-is-regional-rail-07-07-2025/)
* [Time for a national public transport network](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/national-public-transport-network-07-06-2022)
