Remutaka Tunnel

Remutaka Tunnel
Overview
LineWairarapa Line
LocationRemutaka Range, Wellington, New Zealand
CoordinatesWest portal: 41°6′28.36″S 175°8′22.18″E / 41.1078778°S 175.1394944°E / -41.1078778; 175.1394944
East portal: 41°7′57.8″S 175°14′23.31″E / 41.132722°S 175.2398083°E / -41.132722; 175.2398083
StatusOpen
StartMaymorn, Upper Hutt
EndRimutaka Loop
Operation
Opened3 November 1955
OwnerNew Zealand Railways Corporation
OperatorKiwiRail (freight), Transdev Wellington (passenger)
CharacterPassenger/freight
Technical
Line length8.93 kilometres (5.5 mi)
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
ElectrifiedProvided for 1500 V DC but not installed
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map
Map

The Remutaka Tunnel (spelled Rimutaka Tunnel before 2017) is a railway tunnel through New Zealand's Remutaka Range, between Maymorn, near Upper Hutt, and Featherston, on the Wairarapa Line.

The tunnel, which was opened to traffic on 3 November 1955, is 8.93 kilometres (5.55 mi) long. It was the longest tunnel in New Zealand, superseding the Otira Tunnel in the South Island until the completion of the Kaimai Tunnel 9.03 kilometres (5.61 mi) near Tauranga in 1978. Remutaka remains the longest tunnel in New Zealand with scheduled passenger trains.