In 1967 the new train was promoted by Minister of Railways, J.B. Gordon, on the grounds that it would deliver a clear return on its purchase cost and operation. Most equivalent overseas passenger rail services ceased that year and following the US Postal Service ending its use of almost all North American rail passenger services for first class mail in September 1967—Santa Fe applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission to withdraw 33 out of 39 of the long-distance express passenger trains they ran. That is, all but the Los Angeles-Chicago "Super Chief" and its Frisco connection, the "Texas Chief" (Chicago-Houston), its Dallas connection, and two Los Angeles-San Diego locals. Nevertheless, approval for NZR to release tenders for the new train was made on 19 November 1968. The order for the train was placed with mid-1969 with Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo.