New Zealand Transport Agency report in their latest Rail Safety Update that 628,229 passengers traveled on rail heritage and tourist trains during the 2010-2011 year. 50 heritage and tourist rail operators are licenced to operate heritage and tourist trains on either the National Rail System or on their own network operations. The figures exclude long-distance passenger trains operated by KiwiRail, metro operations at Auckland and Wellington, and the Wellington Cable Car, which add a further 21 million journeys each year.

Rail is making a significant contribution New Zealand tourism, with a wide variety of operations throughout the country, offering a wide range of experiences.

Source: Rail Safety Update February 2012, NZ Transport Agency