The route of the railway today has historic, aesthetic, engineering and social heritage significance.

• It has historic significance as it formed the original government railway link between Wellington, the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki and points further north.
• It has aesthetic importance because of the rugged Rimutaka Range through which it passes.
• It has engineering importance as it was the only instance of railway line where the Fell centre-rail was used for adhesion as well as braking, which saw the use of up to five Fell locomotives spaced through trains ascending the steep 1 in 15 gradient between Cross Creek and Summit.
• The line also used many technically innovative techniques not seen before in New Zealand, including first use of the Fell centre-rail system, what is believed to be the first concrete-block structure in the country – the Pakuratahi Tunnel.
• It has social importance as it opened up and connected Wairarapa communities with the port in Wellington. There is a long-lasting community connection with the Rimutaka Incline, due to the important transport service the railway provided along with the significant number of people employed to operate the Incline over the years.