East-bound train bound for Tauranga emerges from the tunnel under Hamilton CBD and crosses high above the Waikato River. The steel bridge is 100' high and was the original railroad bridge until the line was lowered.
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.