Herald Online reporter Paul Harper is making his way around the South Island by rail over the course of a fortnight. Here are some of the highlights of his trip so far.

Greg Rules uses his seven-day rail pass to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and to the Hakone mountains and lakes district before returning to Tokyo.

For anyone who doubts the need for the inner-city rail tunnel, the recent draft public transport plan is the document to change your mind, writes Brian Rudman.

KiwiRail has recently announced a series of closures and redundancies as it struggles to become more profitable.Does rail have a future in NZ? Send us Your Views.

The Transport Minister says repairing the Napier to Gisborne rail line can't be justified, even as the Government spends millions towards new passing bays between the cities.

Travelling by train with a young family turns the journey into part of the holiday, as Mark Rowe has discovered.

The Amtrak Empire Builder may not be the most elegant train in the world, but the wide Montana scenery more than makes up for it.

Council transport chairman cites lack of competition for the high outlays.

Sighting a cosmic marvel more than makes up for a couple of sleepless nights, writes Janet Keeler.