Inside one of the world's scariest airports where pilots have to avoid trains on the runway
Share and Follow

<!–

<!–

<!–

<!–

<!–

<!–

An airport in New Zealand has been described as one of the world’s scariest places to land a plane. 

And it’s for a very unusual reason. 

As bizarre as it sounds, Gisborne Airport’s main runway actually has a railway line cutting directly across it. 

The airport’s air controllers have to coordinate takeoffs and landings with the train’s schedule. 

However, luckily for them and any nervous travellers, the train line is currently only used 15 times a year. 

The Gisborne City Vintage Railway’s steam train is the only train to use the line and travels between Gisborne and Muriwai. 

It’s a popular tourist route and tends to run during the summer and when cruise ships are visiting. 

The airport is used much more frequently than its trainline as Air New Zealand operates daily non-stop flights from Gisborne to Auckland.  

As bizarre as it sounds, Gisborne Airport's main runway actually has a railway line cutting directly across it

As bizarre as it sounds, Gisborne Airport’s main runway actually has a railway line cutting directly across it

The Gisborne City Vintage Railway's steam train is the only train to use the line and travels between Gisborne and Muriwai

The Gisborne City Vintage Railway’s steam train is the only train to use the line and travels between Gisborne and Muriwai

The airport is used much more frequently as Air New Zealand operates daily non-stop flights from Gisborne to Auckland

The airport is used much more frequently as Air New Zealand operates daily non-stop flights from Gisborne to Auckland

But Gisborne isn’t just worth visiting for its unique airport. 

Located on New Zealand’s east coast, the city has fantastic surfing beaches, a range of wineries and it’s the first place in the world to see the sunrise. 

Prefer to fly from a more luxurious airport? 

The world’s best airports were recently named in a new ranking and the best-rated hub is even home to the globe’s tallest indoor waterfall. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Europe Responds to Trump’s Greenland Tariff Shock: How Will It Impact Trade Relations?

United States President Donald Trump has vowed to implement a wave of…
Sydney and the Blue Mountains are in the direct firing line of the severe thunderstorm.

Sydney Residents Alerted to Potential Flash Flooding Following Overnight Thunderstorm

The storm, moving westward from the coastline, swept over the city’s south…
Sinkhole in Heidelberg

Unseen Threat: Suburban Australia Faces Hidden Sinkhole Challenges

Climate change could be driving the emergence of sinkholes across Australia, experts…
President Donald Trump points after arriving at Palm Beach International Airport on Air Force One, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump’s Tariff Tactics: How European Opposition to Greenland Acquisition Sparks Trade Tensions

If an agreement regarding “the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland” by…
It is not known who fired the shots at the house after a shooting in Lalor Park, Sydney.

Late Night Shooting in Sydney Leaves Man Critically Hurt

In a disturbing incident that unfolded overnight in Sydney’s west, a man…

Iranian Leader Reveals Heavy Toll of ‘Several Thousand’ Lives Lost in Protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged that thousands of people…

US Department of Justice Launches Investigation into Minnesota Governor over Alleged ICE Obstruction

The US justice department has opened a criminal investigation into Minnesota officials,…
Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on any country that opposes his Greenland annexation plans.

Iran Acknowledges Heavy Protest Casualties, Labels Trump as ‘Criminal’ in Bold Statement

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei branded US President Donald Trump a…