Rimutaka Tunnel Rimutaka Tunnel The Rimutaka Tunnel (officially Tunnel 2, Wairarapa Line) is a railway tunnel through New Zealand's Remutaka Range, between Maymorn, near Upper Hutt, and Featherston, on the Wairarapa Line. The tunnel, which was opened to traffic on 3 November 1955, is long. It was the longest tunnel in New Zealand, superseding the Otira Tunnel in the South Island until the completion of the Kaimai Tunnel (8.88 km, 5.55 miles) near Tauranga in 1978. Rimutaka remains the longest tunnel in New Zealand with scheduled passenger trains. The tunnel was built as part of a deviation to replace the costly Rimutaka
Woodville railway station, Manawatu-Wanganui and on 17 November it was decided instead to replace the station. In legislation and Hansard the proposed Woodville balloon loop was referred to as the 'Woodville Connection'. It was approved by the Finance Act of 1957 and the written description of the line was as follows; A connecting line leaving the Wellington to Woodville Railway near the Manga-atua Stream and running in a westerly direction to a junction with the Palmerston North to Napier Railway at McLean Street. Length about 1¼ miles. From the debate it is clear the loop was proposed due to the completion of Rimutaka Tunnel,