Comments on: Dont Waste Money on Tranz scenic TranzAlpine train – New Zealand http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/ Travel Tales and Photos from around the world off the beaten track Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:50:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Alan http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17066 Alan Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:49:03 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17066 Re: Steve's Commets No:31. It may well be that Kiwi Rail is government owned, but I bet that they are glad that visitors to NZ keep it going for the residents, after all, The Overlander was shut down, but due to pressure from visitors, me being one of them, they reinstated the service, I am pleased to say! You stated that the senior fare was not available to non residents, yet when I phoned to book the fare, the Kiwi Rail member of staff was well aware I was not a resident as I paid in GB pounds! I looked up the fare for September on this trip and at the NZ$ to UK£ rate it came in at £114.00, which is a lot of money for any UK visitor flying to NZ at the moment. If I was travelling to NZ now and intended to take this trip (and its a great trip) and could not get a Senior Citizen rate, I would pass it up, and I am sure that other senior visitors may well do so. I am due to visit my family in NZ in December for 6 weeks (my eighth trip to NZ) and have already booked many trips whilst there including a flight down to the South Island, and I am very pleased to say that other than the hotels, almost everywhere that I have booked offered senior citizen fares, not even asking if I was an NZ national, they were only too glad of the business. I am sure that Kiwi Rail feel the same?? Re: Steve’s Commets No:31. It may well be that Kiwi Rail is government owned, but I bet that they are glad that visitors to NZ keep it going for the residents, after all, The Overlander was shut down, but due to pressure from visitors, me being one of them, they reinstated the service, I am pleased to say! You stated that the senior fare was not available to non residents, yet when I phoned to book the fare, the Kiwi Rail member of staff was well aware I was not a resident as I paid in GB pounds!

I looked up the fare for September on this trip and at the NZ$ to UK£ rate it came in at £114.00, which is a lot of money for any UK visitor flying to NZ at the moment. If I was travelling to NZ now and intended to take this trip (and its a great trip) and could not get a Senior Citizen rate, I would pass it up, and I am sure that other senior visitors may well do so. I am due to visit my family in NZ in December for 6 weeks (my eighth trip to NZ) and have already booked many trips whilst there including a flight down to the South Island, and I am very pleased to say that other than the hotels, almost everywhere that I have booked offered senior citizen fares, not even asking if I was an NZ national, they were only too glad of the business. I am sure that Kiwi Rail feel the same??

]]> By: Steve http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17054 Steve Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:27:31 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17054 Re Alan's comment. Perhaps the reason the senior's fare is not on the internet is because Kiwi Rail is a government owned business paid for through NZ taxes. The NZ seniors have paid into the tax system which has paid for the railway and this is a subsidised rate not available to non residents. The same applies in other countries although I'm not sure about the UK. But as a tax payer in NZ I'm more than comfortable with NZ Seniors getting a deal to ride the rails over and above what tourists would pay. On UK Sterling the normal fare is still a pretty good deal. Re Alan’s comment. Perhaps the reason the senior’s fare is not on the internet is because Kiwi Rail is a government owned business paid for through NZ taxes. The NZ seniors have paid into the tax system which has paid for the railway and this is a subsidised rate not available to non residents. The same applies in other countries although I’m not sure about the UK. But as a tax payer in NZ I’m more than comfortable with NZ Seniors getting a deal to ride the rails over and above what tourists would pay. On UK Sterling the normal fare is still a pretty good deal.

]]> By: Alan http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17052 Alan Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:41:16 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17052 I made comment last August 2010 (See No:22) and have since travelled on the Overlander from Hamilton to Wellington, so no comparison there! I agree the fare for the trip Christchurch to Greymouth is excessive, no more so now that the NZ$ against the UK£ is poor. But one thing I was not aware of was the fact that when I went to book that Overlander trip on the Internet from the UK, there was no fare price for a senior citizen, which I am! So I phoned KiwiRail from the UK, and was told the price as they do not put that on the website, and the ability to book it online!! When I was told the price, it was a steal, so maybe if KiwiRail does alter its pricing policy on the Internet, maybe more senior citizens from NZ & abroad may take either trip, whether you want to argue if its the best trip you have ever made or not! If the same policy on pricing was adopted in the uk, with a disadvantage to senior citizens able to book a fare that is not available online, it would be regarded as an infringement of Human Rights!! I made comment last August 2010 (See No:22) and have since travelled on the Overlander from Hamilton to Wellington, so no comparison there! I agree the fare for the trip Christchurch to Greymouth is excessive, no more so now that the NZ$ against the UK£ is poor. But one thing I was not aware of was the fact that when I went to book that Overlander trip on the Internet from the UK, there was no fare price for a senior citizen, which I am! So I phoned KiwiRail from the UK, and was told the price as they do not put that on the website, and the ability to book it online!! When I was told the price, it was a steal, so maybe if KiwiRail does alter its pricing policy on the Internet, maybe more senior citizens from NZ & abroad may take either trip, whether you want to argue if its the best trip you have ever made or not! If the same policy on pricing was adopted in the uk, with a disadvantage to senior citizens able to book a fare that is not available online, it would be regarded as an infringement of Human Rights!!

]]> By: Keiron http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17051 Keiron Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:46:50 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17051 We visited last month and had a great time on the train, with beautiful scenery. Slightly marred by a rude member of staff. We visited last month and had a great time on the train, with beautiful scenery. Slightly marred by a rude member of staff.

]]> By: Brian http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17012 Brian Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:03:26 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17012 Just to update my post in April, I did indeed take the train trip from Greymouth to Chch in late July. Rather than pay full price via the website, I emailed Kiwirail and asked if they had any cheap unadvertised fares available. Sure enough, I was able to score seats at $85. The trip was excellent, the carriage we were in had been updated since I last travelled, and the guy who gave the running commentary during the journey (I think his name was Charlie) was fantastic. Bottom line - definitely do this rail trip if you're visiting the area, but email them for discount fares first. Just to update my post in April, I did indeed take the train trip from Greymouth to Chch in late July. Rather than pay full price via the website, I emailed Kiwirail and asked if they had any cheap unadvertised fares available. Sure enough, I was able to score seats at $85.

The trip was excellent, the carriage we were in had been updated since I last travelled, and the guy who gave the running commentary during the journey (I think his name was Charlie) was fantastic. Bottom line – definitely do this rail trip if you’re visiting the area, but email them for discount fares first.

]]> By: Bob http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17010 Bob Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:38:12 +0000 http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/dont-waste-money-on-tranz-scenic-tranzalpine-train/#comment-17010 Thanks Sixiang Your Q to Nigel is riht on the money! I'm now wondering what the benefit is of booking in advance? Will I be guaranteed a seat? If not why bother, just wait till you get there and get a cheaper rate. Come on Nigel, how about a response? Thanks Sixiang

Your Q to Nigel is riht on the money! I’m now wondering what the benefit is of booking in advance? Will I be guaranteed a seat? If not why bother, just wait till you get there and get a cheaper rate.

Come on Nigel, how about a response?

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