Trains north of Whangarei will come to a halt later this year.

Newshub has exclusively obtained leaked documents which show the rail line from Kauri to Otiria will no longer be in use come September.

Kiwirail has not renewed the contract with the sole operator of the line, Marusumi -- but Transport Minister Simon Bridges says there is no plan to close the line.

"No intention to shut lines that are operating at the current time," he said.

He also said that last year. On October 20 last year Mr Bridges was asked by Winston Peters whether there was any plan to close the rail line, and he said no.