North Island Main Trunk - Infrastructure

Infrastructure

The NIMT has been described as an "engineering miracle", with numerous engineering feats especially along the Rangitikei River and on the North Island Volcanic Plateau. This included the building of the famous Raurimu Spiral to allow trains to manage the steep grade from the Whanganui River valley onto the Volcanic Plateau. The NIMT also has nine major viaducts, of which five are over 70 metres (230 ft) high - Makohine (73 m/240 ft), South Rangitikei (78 m/256 ft), Kawhatau (73 m/240 ft), North Rangitikei (81 m/266 ft), and Makatote (79 m/259 ft).

The NIMT's 681 km length includes 352 bridges and 14 tunnels.