Nowhere on Earth will you find this amazing sight: a passenger plane pausing mid-runway to let a train pass. No, this is not a movie set — it is real, and it happens every day at Gisborne Airport in New Zealand, as the airport is the only place in the world where a fully operational railway line slices right through the middle of an active runway.
This means that trains and airplanes actually alternate crossing routes, and a group of knowledgeable air traffic controllers carefully plans the entire spectacle.
The Gisborne Airport
In a world obsessed with keeping air and rail apart, Gisborne Airport dares to do the impossible — and makes it look routine. Buckle up as we take you behind the scenes of this mind-bending travel marvel.
Planes have the runway to themselves at most airports. However, at Gisborne Airport in New Zealand, things operate quite differently. Here, the runway is used alternately by trains and airplanes. Also, visitors are both confused and captivated by this unique sight, which is one of the few airports in the world where a railway track passes directly through the center of the main runway.
Planes Take Off And Trains Pass Through The Same Path Daily
Gisborne is a small city with a unique airport on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The main runway is almost cut in half by the Palmerston North–Gisborne railway line, which crosses the 160-hectare airfield. Every day from 6:30 am until 8:30 pm, the airport and railway are open. After that, the runway is closed.
How Does Gisborne Airport Work?
Airport workers control railway signals in order to securely handle this. When a plane has to land or take off, they stop the trains. Gisborne is connected to the nearby town of Muriwai by the railway line. To prevent delays, this system requires careful planning each day. Another airport similar to this one was located in Tasmania, Australia, but its train was shut down in 2005. The only airport in the world where trains still straddle a functional runway is Gisborne.
Despite being a small airport, Gisborne serves almost 1.5 lakh people annually and manages more than 60 domestic flights per week. In addition to the main runway, it has three others.
The airport serves as a starting point for exploring its stunning beaches and green landscapes. In addition to this unique runway-sharing feature, what really sets it apart is the breathtaking view of planes waiting for one another, which frequently goes viral on the internet and amazes aviation lovers everywhere.
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