Enjoy wonder of train journey

Hop on a train in Whangarei and cruise down to the City of Sails to watch the multi award winning smash hit musical Jersey Boys.

The Railway Enthusiasts' Society has organised two special train excursions between Whangarei and Auckland on May 26 and 27 to create an enthusiasm for rail and rail travel in New Zealand and abroad.

Society committee member Aaron Ripley said the trip on Saturday, May 26 would allow commuters to travel to Auckland by coach and return by train - a scenic five-hour journey aboard a Kiwirail charter train.

"Highlights include the sprint through west Auckland suburbs, the beautiful river valleys between Kaukapakapa and Wellsford, the majestic river tributaries of the Kaipara Harbour and an evening arrival into Whangarei rail station," Mr Ripley said.

On Sunday, an additional special trip is available on a train from Whangarei to Britomart and three packages are available for the Jersey Boys show at the Civil Theatre.

Return is via coach late in the evening.

Mr Ripley said the trips were a rare opportunity to see parts of Northland not normally seen by the travelling public.

A convenient range of options was available, from basic package starting at $125 per person to all-inclusive options at $327.50.

The society's volunteers had been operating trips since 1958, including running the last passenger trains to Donnelly's Crossing in 1959, Opua in 1988 and Dargaville since 2001.

Mr Ripley said with debate on the future of rail transport in North Auckland, the society was keen to give people an opportunity to travel the scenic line.

"Experience over the last 54 years has been that when lines are mothballed and closed, they are very seldom ever re-opened."

For more information contact the society on 0800472453 or email: enquiries@railfan.org.nz