From 1 January 2020, each licence holder must pay a fixed annual safety charge of $400 for the licence. [5(4)(external link)]

If you’re both a rail operator and an access provider, you will have to pay the fixed $400 fee for both licence classes [7(3)(external link)].

A licence holder who is a rail operator must also pay a variable charge that is calculated based on the number of passenger service kilometres operated during the previous year. [5(5)(external link)]

A licence holder who is an access provider must also pay a variable charge that is calculated based on the number of network traffic kilometres operated on their railway line during the previous year. [5(6)(external link)]

If you are a registered charity or a volunteer organisation, you are exempt from paying the variable charge.[7(external link)]

Maximum charges

Depending on the type and size of operator you are, there are caps to the annual safety charge [6(1)(external link)]. These have been outlined in the table below.

Licence holder type

Rail activity details (previous year)

Max charge

Rail operator

Operated more than 250,000 but not more than 2,500,000 passenger service kilometres

$6,000

Rail operator

Operated more than 25,000 but not more than 250,000 passenger service kilometres

$3,000

Rail operator

Operated no more than 25,000 passenger service kilometres

$1,500

Access provider

More than 500,000 but not more than 5,000,000 network traffic kilometres operated on its railway line

$6,000

Access provider

More than 50,000 but not more than 500,000 network traffic kilometres operated on its railway line

$3,000

Access provider

No more than 50,000 network traffic kilometres operated on its railway line

$1,500

Note: There are no maximum annual safety charges for operators who exceed 2,500,000 passenger service kilometres and/or access providers who have more than 5,000,000 network traffic kilometres operated on their railway line. [6(2)(external link)]

  •   What is an access provider?

    An access provider is a person or organisation that controls the use of a railway line by rail operators. This applies to a railway operating on a single rail or set of rails with a gauge of 550 mm or greater, and those with a lesser gauge which are included by regulation.

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  •   What is a rail operator?

    A rail operator is the person who provides or operates a rail vehicle as described above, including:

    • a locomotive
    • railcar
    • tram
    • light rail vehicle
    • hi-rail vehicle
    • maintenance vehicle
    • shunting tractor.

    Generally, railways with a lesser gauge that are available for public use are considered to be amusement devices and are excluded from requiring a licence under the Railways Act.

    Note: For details about operating those, refer to Worksafe NZ’s Amusement devices(external link) page.

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