Marton–New Plymouth line
| Marton-New Plymouth Line | |
|---|---|
Waverley Railway Station 22 April 2006 | |
| Overview | |
| Other names | Foxton and Wanganui Railway |
| Status | Active |
| Owner | KiwiRail |
| Locale | Taranaki and Manawatū–Whanganui, New Zealand |
| Termini | |
| Connecting lines | North Island Main Trunk Wanganui Branch Kapuni Branch Stratford–Okahukura line Waitara Branch |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy Rail |
| System | New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) |
| Operator(s) | KiwiRail |
| History | |
| Commenced | 1873 |
| Opened | 23 March 1885 |
| Final passenger service (entire line) | 30 July 1977 |
| Final passenger service (New Plymouth) | 21 January 1983 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 208.93 km (129.82 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Character | Rural, at-grade |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
The Marton–New Plymouth line (MNPL) is a secondary railway in the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui regions. It diverges from the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) at Marton and follows the South Taranaki Bight along the west coast before turning inland to meet the Stratford–Okahukura Line (SOL) at Stratford, continuing on to New Plymouth.
Construction of the line was completed in 1885. With the completion of the SOL in 1933, the combined route provided an alternative western connection to the NIMT—though this role diminished when the SOL was mothballed in 2010. In its early years, the MNPL hosted the New Plymouth Express, the North Island’s first regional express service. Following the withdrawal of passenger services in 1977, the line has been used exclusively for freight.