Transport in Invercargill

Invercargill is the southernmost city on New Zealand's state highway network and is linked to Fiordland and the Catlins by the Southern Scenic Route and Dunedin and Gore by SH 1.

Invercargill was the first town in New Zealand to have a steam locomotive and was once the centre of a much larger rail network than at present.

It is at the southern end of the Main South Line railway, which extends up the east coast to Christchurch and Lyttelton via Dunedin.

Twin-engine propeller-driven aircraft destined for McMurdo Sound in the Antarctic used the airport, assisted in takeoff by JATO rockets.

Invercargill Airport has the fourth longest runway in New Zealand at 2210 metres, after Auckland, Christchurch and Ohakea.

[2] However, central government requirements (NZ Transport Agency) for regional authorities to aim for a 50% fare recovery from public transport led to Invercargill's zero-fare services being discontinued,[3] and new bus routes and timetables operated by BusSmart were introduced in December 2012.

[7] Construction began in January 1911 and two lines of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge track were opened on 26 March 1912, one to Waikiwi and one to Georgetown.

The Georgetown route was closed on 2 July 1951, but the portion to Rugby Park Stadium remained open until August 1951.