Alstom delivers Area 1 of KiwiRail’s Traffic Management System, covering 1,200 kilometres and nearly 90 stations between Hamilton and Wellington

Alstom has delivered Area 1 of KiwiRail’s Traffic Management System (TMS) into operational service, bringing approximately 1,200 kilometres of rail corridor and close to 90 stations across New Zealand’s Lower North Island under a single digital control platform.

The deployment covers the network between Hamilton and Wellington and marks a significant step in the modernisation and digitisation of New Zealand’s rail network. It also represents a major scale-up from the eight-station pilot introduced on the Wairarapa Line in May 2025.

From Wairarapa pilot to Lower North Island operations

Alstom’s Onvia Vision system brings trains, stations and rail corridors together within one platform, giving controllers network-wide visibility of operations. According to Alstom, managing a larger and more complex section of the network through a single system will allow KiwiRail to respond more effectively to operational events, optimise traffic flow and support future network growth.

The Lower North Island is one of New Zealand’s most important corridors for both passenger and freight services. Alstom says the platform’s real-time network intelligence and enhanced operational control are intended to improve safety, resilience and efficiency across both, while the rollout advances KiwiRail’s long-term vision for a nationally integrated rail management network.

Carl Mills, KiwiRail Project Director, said: “From the outset, Alstom’s experts worked alongside our team to understand our network, our operations and our long-term ambitions. Together we have introduced modern traffic management capabilities that give our teams greater visibility of network operations and support more informed decision-making. The result is a safer, more resilient and more efficient railway for our customers and communities.”

Together we have introduced modern traffic management capabilities that give our teams greater visibility of network operations and support more informed decision-making.”

Foundation for a national rollout

Guillaume Tritter, Managing Director, Alstom Australia and New Zealand, said the project had been shaped around local operating conditions. “From day one, our teams have worked closely with KiwiRail to understand the realities of network operations and deliver a solution designed for New Zealand’s unique requirements,” he said. “Today, that partnership has delivered a traffic management system operating across the Lower North Island and created a strong foundation for the continued rollout of advanced rail technologies across the country.”

Formerly known as Iconis, Onvia Vision is used by rail operators in more than 30 countries, and Alstom says it draws on over three decades of experience in rail operations and signalling. The system is designed to improve network performance through traffic management, optimised scheduling and more efficient use of rail infrastructure.