NZR RM class (Silver Fern)

New Zealand RM class Silver Fern
Silver Fern railcar RM 24 near Papakura, Auckland
In service	1972 - present
Manufacturer	Kawasaki and Toshiba, trading as Nissho-Iwai Company of Japan
Constructed	1972
Entered service	1972
Number built	3
Number in service	2
Fleet numbers	RM 1, 2, 3 (original) RM 18, 24, 30 (TMS)
Capacity	96
Operator(s)	New Zealand Railways Department (1972 - 1982) New Zealand Railways Corporation (1982 - 1990) New Zealand Rail Limited (1990 - 1995) Tranz Rail (1995 - 2002) Transdev Auckland (2002 - 2009) KiwiRail (2008 - present)
Line(s) served	North Island Main Trunk Palmerston North - Gisborne Line East Coast Main Trunk (former) Rotorua Branch (former)
Specifications
Train length	47.4 metres (155 ft 6 in) total
Car length	(?)
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight	107 tonnes (105 long tons; 118 short tons)
Prime mover(s)	Caterpillar D398TA
Power output	670 kW (900 hp)
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by Kawasaki and Toshiba, trading as Nissho Iwai Company of Japan. The New Zealand Railways classed the railcars RM, like all other railcars.

The railcars are most famous for their service on the eponymous North Island Main Trunk daylight passenger train between Auckland and Wellington between Sunday 14 December 1972 and Sunday 8 December 1991.

Built by Kawasaki and Toshiba (trading as Nissho Iwai), the Silver Ferns were introduced in 1972 to encourage passengers back to rail transport due to competition from air and road transport. The class was named the "Silver Ferns" (a national symbol of New Zealand) because of their exterior was made of corrugated stainless steel, like the overnight "Silver Star" carriage train, and replaced the three 82-seater Blue Streak railcars.

In December 1991 the Silver Fern was replaced by the Overlander carriage train. The railcars were transferred to two newly introduced services: the Kaimai Express between Auckland and Tauranga and the Geyserland Express between Auckland and Rotorua. In 2000, a third service was added, the Waikato Connection between Auckland and Hamilton. All three services ceased on 7 October 2001.