New Zealand Railways Department

The New Zealand Railways Department ( NZR ) was founded in 1880 the New Zealand government department that was responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of the New Zealand rail network. Under the pressure of financial loss to the Department in 1982, became privatized and transferred to the New Zealand Railways Corporation ( NZRC ).

History

The construction of the first railway line started in New Zealand in 1860 It was 6.5 nbsp;. Miles long and ran from Christchurch to Ferrymead, a small suburb of Christchurch. The line was opened in 1863. Other minor lines, such as from Invercargill to Bluff in 1867 and 1873 were followed from Dunedin to Port Chalmers. The breakthrough for the New Zealand railway came but only by the plan developed in 1870 by the then Finance Minister Julius Vogel, who as workers drove forward through investment and recruitment of immigrants in road and railway construction. Thus, the railroad became more and more also the cause of the colonial administration.

As the provinces were abolished in 1876, the railways came under government control and became the Department of Public Works assumed. 1878 continued the minister two Railway Commissioners one, one for the North Island and the South Island. 1880 followed by the establishment of the New Zealand Railways Department. The railways were first built by the Public Works Department and then handed over for operation on the newly created Department. It was not until 1895, the New Zealand Railways Department became independent by assigning its own minister.

From 1920, the financial situation of the New Zealand railway system began to deteriorate steadily. 1945 losses were recorded for the first time. In the years to 1970, gains and losses over a period of several years, the balance were seen still hold. After 1970, however, the losses in the operation of the railway network increased dramatically. Under the pressure of public operation of the railway was privatized in 1982 and the New Zealand Railways Corporation founded the order took over the duties of the New Zealand Railways Department.

With the State -Owned Enterprises Act 1986, the New Zealand Railways Corporation officially got the status of State -Owned Enterprise ( state-owned enterprise ).