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

In December 1991 the Silver Fern was replaced by the Overlander carriage train. The railcars were transferred to the routes between Auckland and Tauranga (Kaimai Express), Rotorua (Geyserland Express) and in 2000, Hamilton (Waikato Connection), but they were not commercially successful and ceased on 7 October 2001. The railcars are owned by Kiwi Rail, and were leased from 2002 to Veolia Auckland to operate Auckland - Pukekohe commuter services on behalf of ARTA. That lease will expire in 2009, however there is a possibility that the lease may be extended further. They are available for charters.