107-625: The Wairarapa Connection is a New Zealand interurban commuter rail service along the Wairarapa Line between Masterton , the largest town in the Wairarapa , and Wellington . It is operated by Wellington suburban operator Transdev (with KiwiRail sub-contracted to operate the locomotives) under contract from the Greater Wellington Regional Council. It is a diesel -hauled carriage service, introduced by
214-686: A Cosmopolitan Club and RSA , a Lodge of the Freemasons as well as Taumarunui Lodge NZ No. 12 of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Grand Council. This Lodge of the Buffaloes was established sometime in the mid-late 1920s and thus predates the introduction of the Mighty NZR KA class steam locomotives that became the hallmark of NIMT Rail Transport of the forties, fifties and sixties. Taumarunui High School
321-784: A "Backpackers" car, the TranzCoastal Express in 1996, was also working the service in 2003. While on the TranzCoastal it was fitted with air-conditioning. This is not the first time this carriage has worked the Wairarapa services; in 1995, while assigned to the NIMT and sporting the InterCity blue with white stripe and green band, it ran on the Wairarapa Connection for a time with the first car-van to receive
428-599: A Fell brake van and other railway-related items of historical significance. The Woodside Station Preservation Society focuses its activities on the Woodside railway station Building. The Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society focuses its activities on the Historic Carterton railway station complex, which includes a museum inside Carterton's historic station building, rolling stock in the station yard , and other heritage items. The Pahiatua Railcar Society
535-712: A branch line to Martinborough was proposed but this line never eventuated. Several upgrades and alterations to the Wairarapa Line have been made, but only the Western Hutt and Rimutaka tunnel deviations have significantly altered its route. In 1925, construction began on what was then known as the Hutt Valley Branch , leaving the main line just north of Petone station and running east to Waterloo , opening on 26 May 1927. After World War II , new state housing suburbs developed north of Waterloo, and
642-489: A coarse kind of gunpowder. He was afterwards expelled from the district. Despite warnings, he returned in 1880, ostensibly to prospect for gold, and was executed. The Whanganui River long continued to be the principal route serving Taumarunui. Traffic was at first by Māori canoe, but by the late 1880s regular steamship communication was established. Taumarunui Landing ( Image ) was the last stop on Alexander Hatrick 's steam boat service from Wanganui. The river vessels maintained
749-560: A considerable distance in any direction. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk railway. The name Taumarunui is reported to be the dying words of the Māori chief Pehi Turoa – taumaru meaning screen and nui big, literally translated as Big Screen, being built to shelter him from the sun, or more commonly known to mean – "The place of big shelter". There are also references to Taumarunui being known as
856-472: A generator. In 2006, Hillside Engineering won the contract from the Greater Wellington Regional Council to rebuild 18 British Rail Mark 2 carriages to replace the fleet. They are classified SW for cars with passenger saloon only, SWS with servery and SWG with luggage compartment and generator for power supply. The S stands for "Scenic Series" and "W" for "Wairarapa", to distinguish them from their Capital Connection counterparts, classified S. On 11 May 2007,
963-695: A large sheltered location for growing kūmara . In the 1980s publication Roll Back the Years there are some details on how Taumarunui got its name. Extract: "According to Frank T Brown, who wrote in the Taumarunui Press in 1926, the name Taumarunui is closely connected with the arrival of and conquering of that portion of the King Country by the Whanganui River natives during the 18th century . . . The war party that succeeded in capturing
1070-578: A longer loop at Upper Hutt will hold longer Wairarapa log trains. The work is expected to improve the operation of both suburban passenger trains to Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa Connection . Until the acquisition of the WMR in December 1908, all NZR freight out of Wellington was carried on the Wairarapa Line. As soon as the western route became available, all freight that could be diverted off
1177-452: A new, brighter shade of red, with white roofs as opposed to the standard silver oxide. In the early 1980s, with the refurbishment of the Picton and Greymouth services and the decision to use the former Endeavour carriages on new Gisborne-Wellington services, former 88-seater railcars painted a distinctive green and nicknamed "Grass Grubs" , were introduced to the Wairarapa service. However,
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#17327762238101284-611: A number of marae in the Taumarunui area, affiliated with local iwi and hapū , including: In October 2020, the Government committed $ 1,560,379 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Takaputiraha Marae, Whānau Maria Marae, Wharauroa Marae and 5 other nearby marae, creating 156 jobs. Taumarunui covers 13.65 km (5.27 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,940 as of June 2024, with
1391-705: A population density of 362 people per km . Taumarunui had a population of 4,707 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 258 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census , and a decrease of 288 people (−5.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,812 households, comprising 2,307 males and 2,403 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 1,035 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 804 (17.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,914 (40.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 966 (20.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 60.5% European/ Pākehā , 52.1% Māori , 3.3% Pacific peoples , 3.5% Asian , and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
1498-410: A railcar service operated on Friday evenings between Masterton and Woodville, and in December that year the decision was taken to replace the morning railcar to Wellington with a carriage train as over 200 passengers wished to use the railcar service that had a capacity of just 176. The final railcar service was replaced by carriage trains in December 1977; some of the carriage trains from this point until
1605-529: A railway along the narrow, rocky shoreline of Wellington Harbour , and the section to Lower Hutt was not opened until 14 April 1874. Further difficulties were encountered in building the rest of the route up the Hutt Valley along the Hutt River 's western bank, including the need to divert the river and reinforce its bank in places. On 1 February 1876 the line opened to Upper Hutt . On 28 December 1877
1712-410: A second platform at Featherston. It is planned to have up to 7 peak services from Masterton at 15-minute intervals. Proposals for railed transportation out of Wellington were made as early as the start of the 1850s, barely a decade after European settlement of the area began. In 1853 and 1857, investigation of horse-hauled tramways was undertaken, but no action was taken. Robert Stokes , a member of
1819-438: A similar refurbishment and rebranding program was initiated for the sixteen Wairarapa carriages, though only 12 were actually overhauled. This program lasted four years, until 1997. Six A cars and three of four ALs were thoroughly overhauled and refurbished with new-style seats. These vehicles were fitted with cloth on the interior walls to reduce noise and were fully carpeted. A class carriages seated 59, as one toilet from each car
1926-417: A spare 4-car SW consist. The 9-carriage SW and SE consist operates two services: 1603 (the 06:20 ex-Masterton) and 1606 (the 16:25 ex-Wellington). The two 6-carriage consists alternate daily, one set operating 1605 (the 06:47 ex-Masterton) and 1608 (the 17:30 ex-Wellington) while the other operates the remaining six services. There is also a luggage and generator carriage, AG 222, used to supplement or replace
2033-538: A steep but manageable route with a grade of 1 in 39-40 was found from Kaitoke up the Pakuratahi River valley to the site of Summit station, 348 metres (1,142 ft) above sea level. However, from Summit down the eastern slope to Cross Creek near Featherston , a gradient of 1 in 14-16 was required. This was far too steep for regular steam locomotives to handle, and accordingly the Fell mountain railway system
2140-565: Is 1822 hrs. In June 2002, Taumarunui recorded just 27 hrs of sun, this is the lowest in the whole country, beating the old record at Invercargill with 35 hrs in June 1935. The lowest temperature recorded in Taumarunui, −6.8 °C, was in July 2010. Ngāpuwaiwaha marae is on Taumarunui Street; its main hapū are Ngāti Hāua and Ngāti Hauaroa of the iwi Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi . Taumarunui has many societies and community organisations. It has
2247-999: Is 24 kilometres (15 mi) from the bridge and the railway reached it in August 1897, and the line was finally opened to Woodville and a junction with the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line on 11 December 1897. Four branch lines diverge from the Wairarapa Line: the Melling Branch and the Gracefield Branch to Hutt Workshops , both still open; the Greytown Branch , closed in 1953, and the Hutt Park Railway , which ceased serving its intended purpose in 1906 but survived in truncated form as an industrial siding until 1982. At one time
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#17327762238102354-438: Is a border area between a number of iwi including Whanganui , Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Tūwharetoa , who lived together in relative harmony. Late in December 1843 Bishop Selwyn travelled from the district south of Taupō to a point on the Whanganui River about six miles downstream from Taumarunui and thence continued his journey to the coast by canoe. Towards the end of 1869 Te Kooti was at Taumarunui before his march through
2461-429: Is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students, with a roll of 340 as of August 2024. The town has three primary schools for Year 1 to 8 students: Taumarunui Primary School, with a roll of 156, Tarrangower School, with a roll of 48, and Turaki School, with a roll of 171. St Patrick's Catholic School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with
2568-541: Is a small town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on an alluvial plain set within rugged terrain on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River , 65 km south of Te Kūiti and 55 km west of Tūrangi . It is under the jurisdiction of Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region. It has a population of 4,950 as of June 2024, and is the largest centre for
2675-400: Is at Pahiatua railway station , which is no longer served by passenger trains but maintained by the society. It has the only surviving Wairarapa and 88-seater railcars and is restoring them to operational condition; it also has an operational Standard railcar . Kaiwharawhara Station was closed suddenly in June 2013 as it was discovered how badly corroded the overbridge was. In November 2013,
2782-638: Is currently under restoration by the Pahiatua Railcar Society . Mixed trains also operated until the 1950s. In the 1950s, the Hutt Valley line was electrified using the 1500 V DC system already operating from Wellington to Johnsonville and Paekākāriki . The electrification was opened to Taitā on 12 October 1953 and Upper Hutt on 24 July 1955, allowing for a more intensive suburban commuter service to Wellington. Originally operated by DM/D class electric multiple units and carriage trains hauled by ED and EW class electric locomotives,
2889-593: Is expected to improve operation of the service. In 2019, the GWRC proposed replacing in 2025 the Capital Connection and Wairarapa Connection trains with 15 four-car dual-mode multiple units , to operate from overhead power from Wellington to Upper Hutt or an on-board power source north of Upper Hutt; to cost $ 415 million. In February 2020, the GWRC announced that the Wairarapa Connection carriages were to be refurbished to extend their life until new rolling stock
2996-430: Is introduced. In 2023 it was announced that 18 four-car trains will be built for Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa lines. The New Zealand Upgrade Programme announced on 30 January 2020 included for the Wairarapa Line passing loops at Carterton, Featherston and Maymorn and a second platform at Featherston. Improvements planned for the Wairarapa Line beyond Upper Hutt from 2021 to 2024 include track renewals with full renewal in
3103-527: Is still in use by heritage operators, particularly the Pahiatua Railcar Society and Steam Incorporated . The Masterton—Pahiatua section will be temporary reopened between December 2024 and February 2025 to enable the Waingawa logging traffic to be diverted via Woodville and Palmerston North, due to track upgrades requiring a 46-day closure of the Remutaka Tunnel. In the late nineteenth century,
3210-704: The DBR , DF/DFT and DX classes occasionally used. In July 2015, the DFT class took over services on the line. As of November 2021, rolling stock regularly used on the Wairarapa Line include: Improvements planned for the Wairarapa Line beyond Upper Hutt from 2021 to 2024 include track renewals with full renewal in the Remutaka and Maoribank tunnels, renewals of timber elements in three bridges, refurbishments of some level crossings and drainage and vegetation clearing. In November 2021, Greater Wellington Regional Council proposed
3317-583: The Hutt Valley Line to Wellington, stopping only at Waterloo and Petone stations. While most regional passenger trains in New Zealand have been withdrawn (apart from the Capital Connection commuter service to Palmerston North and the Te Huia between Auckland and Hamilton ), the Wairarapa Connection service continues due to the Wairarapa's proximity to Wellington and the advantage of
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3424-764: The Napier Express (the WMR had operated the Wellington- Longburn portion of the New Plymouth Express ). After the acquisition of the WMR, the Napier Express was re-routed to the quicker west coast route in early 1909 and the Wairarapa Mail was introduced to provide a regular service through the Wairarapa to Woodville. In 1936, RM class Wairarapa railcars were introduced; these were designed to operate at speed over
3531-566: The New Zealand Railways Department in 1964 after passenger demand between Masterton to Wellington exceeded the capacity of the diesel railcars then used. The 91-kilometre (57 mi) service operates five times daily in each direction Monday to Friday, three peak and two off-peak, with an additional service each way on Friday nights and two services each way on weekends and public holidays. It stops at all stations from Masterton to Upper Hutt , then runs express along
3638-500: The Rimutaka Tunnel opened and the line became the first fully dieselised line in New Zealand. The Wairarapa Mail carriage train ran between Wellington and Woodville until 1948. In 1964, the demand between Masterton and Wellington was exceeding the capacity of the 88-seater railcars, with a capacity of 176 with two railcars. The solution was to introduce a diesel-hauled carriage service. In 1964, six 56-foot carriages from
3745-596: The Silver Stream Railway where members restoring three Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company carriages. It also has an archives building beside Ava railway station in Lower Hutt. The Silver Stream Railway is a heritage railway in Silversteam, Wellington. It regularly operates preserved New Zealand Railways Department locomotives along a restored section of the Hutt Valley Line (part of
3852-531: The South Island were transferred north and fitted with Webasto kerosene-burning heaters for the service. They seated 336 passengers on two-person bench-type Scarrett seats: class A passenger cars seated 56 and AL car-vans (with luggage compartment) seated 47. In 1976, three more As and an AL were added, later joined by another A and AL, all overhauled. They were fitted with fluorescent strip lighting similar to Northerner and Endeavour cars, and painted in
3959-866: The Wanganui River ; on the west generally by the Ongarue River to the Waitomo County. the place of commencement: excluding the Borough of Taumarunui. In 1952 the Kaitieke County and the Ohura County were amalgamated with a new Taumarunui County. In 1988, the Taumarunui District Council was formed, only to be replaced the following year as it was merged into the now Ruapehu District Council . There are
4066-750: The provincial government , proposed a railway over the Rimutakas in 1858 and finally succeeded in gaining government interest in 1863. The Wellington Provincial Government established a committee to investigate proposals, and on 2 July 1866, it passed the Wellington, Hutt and Wairarapa Railway Ordinance. The act authorised a railway employing either 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) or 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge to carry 200 tonnes at speeds of 24 kilometres per hour (15 mph), but construction did not commence as sufficient funds were not available in
4173-455: The 100 km/h standard carriage train speed. The Wairarapa Connection is the only diesel-hauled service operated by Metlink, hauled by diesel-electric locomotives from KiwiRail's fleet. Usually four locomotives are allocated weekly to the Wairarapa Line, operating the Wairarapa Connection and Masterton–Wellington freight services. Since July 2015, DFB class locomotives have been used. DBR , DC class and DA class locomotives were used in
4280-603: The 150-metre (490 ft) long Wiwaka tunnel, the only tunnel between the Rimutaka Incline and Woodville, and the section was opened on 8 April 1889. Construction of the 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) section to Newman was inexplicably slow, not completed until 1896. Pahiatua was reached in May 1897, including the Mangatainoka River bridge, the longest bridge on the line at 162 metres (531 ft). Mangatainoka
4387-409: The 1990s, the service between Masterton and Wellington was rebranded as the Wairarapa Connection and presently operates five times each way weekdays (with a sixth service in the evening on Fridays), and twice each way on weekends and public holidays. In 2007, eighteen new SW class carriages were introduced to replace the 56ft carriages used since the service's inception; in 2013, they were joined by
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4494-537: The 8.8 km Rimutaka Tunnel through the Remutaka Ranges compared to the narrow and winding Rimutaka Hill Road over them. In the year to 30 June 2013, the service's ridership was 705,000, down slightly from 719,000 in the 2011/12-year. 780,000 used the train in 2019. Before the Wairarapa Connection, 88 seater railcars were used between Masterton and Wellington. They had replaced the steam -hauled mixed trains and Wairarapa class railcars in 1955, when
4601-524: The Featherston portal after an electrical fault in locomotive DC 4951's control gear. The Rimutaka Tunnel is a radio dead-spot, and the train driver and guard found the Train Control telephones on the tunnel wall to be dead. Shortly afterwards, the tunnel alarm sounded at Upper Hutt signal box indicating the train had been in the tunnel for more than 15 minutes, and a full-scale emergency response
4708-447: The GWRC voted to close it permanently as on health and safety grounds, it was too expensive and nearly impossible to upgrade the station to provide step free access via ramps for disabled passengers. Petone – Melling, became Melling Branch 1 March 1954; Melling – Haywards, closed 28 February 1954 Section closed 30 October 1955; Rimutaka Deviation opened 3 November 1955 Closed to passengers 1 August 1988 Taumarunui Taumarunui
4815-465: The Hutt River, replacing a section of line now used by Silver Stream Railway The Rimutaka Incline was difficult, costly and time-consuming to operate, but as the Wairarapa Line had become a secondary route since the acquisition of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway in 1908, its replacement was not a priority. Various alternate systems and routes were debated, with a tunnel chosen in 1936. However,
4922-542: The Masterton end of train) an SWG, an SW, an SWS, and then the remaining SW carriages. Because of the short platforms at Renall Street, Solway, Matarawa and Maymorn stations, selective door operation is employed and passengers are asked to alight from the three northernmost (Masterton-end) carriages. In July 2013, the six SE class BR MkII carriages, which had been used as a temporary measure with top-and-tailed EO class electric locomotives in Wellington for two years until
5029-567: The Remutaka and Maoribank tunnels, renewals of timber elements in three bridges, refurbishments of some level crossings and drainage and vegetation clearing. Wairarapa Line The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand . The line runs for 172 kilometres (107 mi), connects the capital city Wellington with the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line at Woodville , via Lower Hutt , Upper Hutt and Masterton . The first part of
5136-578: The Rimutaka Incline and provided a much quicker service to Wellington and local Wairarapa services. They originally augmented the Wairarapa Mail but replaced it in 1948. Carriage trains operated only at peak times of the year when the railcar capacity was exceeded; in 1955, the Incline's closure meant the Wairarapa railcars were withdrawn and 88 seater railcars were introduced, boosting capacity at off-peak times. One Wairarapa railcar has survived and
5243-579: The Rimutaka Incline. Part of the former route west of the Hutt River has been retained as the Melling Branch . The southern portion of the line between Wellington and Upper Hutt is electrified and is also known as the Hutt Valley Line . Transdev on behalf of the Greater Wellington Regional Council runs suburban services along the Hutt Valley section, as well as the Wairarapa Connection service between Wellington and Masterton. KiwiRail runs regular freight services along
5350-582: The Rimutaka Tunnel), replacement of signals between Masterton and Featherston and upgrades to Upper Hutt. Passing loops at Carterton and Woodside had previously been removed, leaving Featherston with the only loop between Upper Hutt and Masterton; the Carterton loop may need reinstating at some time for more frequent trains. The New Zealand Upgrade Programme announced on 30 January 2020 included passing loops at Carterton, Featherston and Maymorn and
5457-533: The SWG or SEG carriages. If the SWG/SEG carriage is replaced, an extra SW/SE carriage is added, making the consist AG–SW–SW–SWS–SW... There are five trains each way between Masterton and Wellington Monday to Friday: three at peak times, to Wellington in the morning and to Masterton in the evening; and two inter-peak. A sixth service operates late Friday night. On weekends and public holidays , two services operate, one in
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#17327762238105564-673: The Trentham–Upper Hutt–Featherston section being transferred to Train Control in February 2007, this was the last section with CTC controlled by a signalman . Part-time signal boxes remained at Petone (weekday peak and inter-peak) and at Taitā (weekday peak) until December 2013 and July 2014 respectively, when signalling was switched to Train Control in central Wellington. Masterton is a unique signalling arrangement with Track Warrant Control ending at 'TWC Ends' boards north of
5671-526: The Wairarapa Line was diverted, due to the difficulties created by the Rimutaka Incline. This meant that even some traffic from the northern Wairarapa was sent through the Manawatū Gorge and down the west coast to Wellington. The opening of the Rimutaka Tunnel made the line more desirable for through freight traffic, but as localised freight gave way to containerised inter-city freight in the 1980s,
5778-617: The Wairarapa Line was the only way D class locomotives could access Wellington due to tunnels south of Paekākāriki being too small. In the 1980s, the DG class had been fully withdrawn and the DA class in the process of withdrawal or conversion to the DC class ; accordingly motive power on the Wairarapa Line changed. Until 2015, the DC class was the mainstay of the Wairarapa line south of Masterton, with locomotives of
5885-421: The Wairarapa Line), deviated in 1954. The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust is based at Maymorn railway station and its ultimate goal is to return the Rimutaka Incline to full operational condition as a tourist attraction. The Fell Engine Museum is a short walk from Featherston station and includes preserved H 199, the sole Fell steam locomotive ( NZR H class ) left in the world. The museum also has
5992-403: The arrival of the new "Matangi" FP/FT class EMUs , were introduced on the Wairarapa Connection. They made up a fourth set of carriages, increasing capacity and allowing more flexibility, but were criticised by for their smaller seat pitch, poor lighting, and lack of tray tables and power outlets. The pitch issues were rectified over the 2013 Christmas period by removing a row of seats and adjusting
6099-495: The branch on 14 May 1880 until the bridging of the Waiohine a month later. Later in 1880, the line opened all the way through to Masterton. The northern Wairarapa was more rugged and isolated, and construction was slower and more difficult. Mauriceville , 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Masterton, was reached on 14 June 1886, followed by the next 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to Mangamahoe on 10 January 1887. The 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) between Mangamahoe and Eketāhuna included
6206-460: The carriage trains and many of the DM/D units were phased out upon the introduction of the "Ganz-Mavag" EM/ET class units in the early 1980s. The "Matangi" FP/FT class was introduced on the Hutt Valley Line in 2011–12, initially relegating the Ganz Mavag units to peak services only before being completely replacing them from 2015. Railcar services were withdrawn in 1977, and carriage trains were re-instated progressively from early 1964. Until 1963,
6313-412: The carriages could not be evacuated quickly in the event of a fire. The doors were modified so they would open automatically if the compressed air supply is lost. In 2017, a survey found a desire for more off-peak and weekend services and a more punctual service. In July, Labour leader Andrew Little promised expenditure on the line from the proposed regional development fund. The Wellington Metro upgrade
6420-544: The doors of all SW and SE carriages. Until April 2011, the minimum fare also applied to those boarding Wellington-bound services after Maymorn. This was temporarily removed in April 2011 to help alleviate a rolling stock shortage brought about by the delayed introduction of the Matangi electric multiple units, and was later made permanent in October 2011. The Wairarapa Connection has been involved in several accidents. Most have occurred at level crossings , where road vehicles have passed warning signs or signals and have been hit by
6527-427: The economic conditions left from the Great Depression followed by the impact of World War II meant that work on the tunnel did not start until 1948. The Incline and the line up the western side of the Rimutakas closed on 29 October 1955 and the tunnel opened on 3 November 1955. When the full line opened in 1897, passenger services from the Hutt Valley to Wellington were augmented by NZR's first express from Wellington,
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#17327762238106634-418: The famous Rimutaka Incline , which used the Fell mountain railway system to cross the Rimutaka Range between Upper Hutt and Featherston . In the mid-1950s, the line between Petone and Featherston was substantially realigned, with the line diverted to the east of the Hutt River between Petone and Haywards to serve new housing developments in Lower Hutt, and the construction of the Rimutaka Tunnel to replace
6741-529: The first four cars entered service, with three more introduced on 18 June 2007 making up a 7-car consist. The remaining 11 cars entered service incrementally by the end of 2007. The inaugural run of the first four cars was on 14 May 2007, being met by the Minister of Transport, Annette King , on arrival on Platform 9 at Wellington at 9.20 am. It departed Masterton at 7.30 am, and called at Carterton at 7.48 am, Featherston at 8.09 am and Upper Hutt at 8.32 am The first run in service
6848-443: The first in the early hours of the morning and the second in the afternoon. No freights currently operate regularly at weekends. KiwiRail ceased running timetabled revenue services on the Masterton–Pahiatua section of the line in February 2015, transferring the Sunday Wellington to Palmerston North via Woodville run to the NIMT. However, they have undertaken to keep it open and maintain it to an operational standard, in part because it
6955-408: The first members of the K class to operate in the North Island were transferred from the South Island to work the Napier Express. They were augmented by members of the M and N classes. In the twentieth century, typical locomotives included members of the A and A class. The Rimutaka Incline was almost always operated by the six members of the H class built specifically for it. In 1906 E 66
7062-431: The fledgling New Zealand colony, nor were they successfully raised in England . In 1870, Julius Vogel included a Wellington-Wairarapa railway in his Great Public Works Policy and visited London to arrange a loan to finance the policy. On this trip, he was approached by several contracting firms and a contract that included the first section of the Wairarapa Line was awarded to Brogden & Sons . The construction of
7169-419: The interim. These included two former Auckland charter cars that were refurbished in 1993. These two cars were then permanently allocated to the Wairarapa. A former 1988 Southerner car turned NIMT no-frills car, later fitted with air-conditioning, was then permanently allocated to the Wairarapa. The sole remaining former single-lavatory first-class car, which served in the 1970 Southerner, 1988 Northerner and, as
7276-452: The line between Wellington to Masterton and between Pahiatua and Woodville. No regular services currently run along the Masterton to Pahiatua section, and this section is currently under review as part of KiwiRail's turnaround plan . The Labour Party promised during the 2017 election campaign to upgrade the track to improve operation of the Wairarapa Connection , and on 9 October 2018 the Minister of Transport Phil Twyford announced that
7383-405: The line can be considered in three stages: the Hutt Valley section, the route over the Rimutakas, and the line through the Wairarapa via Masterton to Woodville . On 20 August 1872, construction of the Wairarapa Line began with the turning of the first sod at Pipitea Point , the site of Wellington's first railway station. Construction was delayed due to the difficulties associated with building
7490-413: The line opened in 1874 between Wellington and Lower Hutt, with the entire line to Woodville completed in 1897. It was the only New Zealand Government Railways route out of Wellington until 1908, when the government bought out the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company who owned and operated the present North Island Main Trunk section between Wellington and Palmerston North. The line originally included
7597-411: The line to Kaitoke was officially opened by the Governor,. On 1 January 1878 the line to Kaitoke was opened to the public; becoming the railhead for the Wairarapa for nearly ten months (to 16 October). The Rimutaka Range posed a severe difficulty to those involved in planning and constructing the Wairarapa Line. On 1 January 1878, the Hutt line opened to Kaitoke at the western foot of the range, and
7704-470: The location of the remainder, and additional tables fitted. The SE set operates as a 'standalone' consist, since the SE and SW carriages have slightly different electrical systems and cannot be mixed. As of June 2019 this issue has been fixed. As of June 2019, there are three consists: an 9-carriage train consisting of 6 SE carriages and 3 SW carriages, a 6-carriage SW consist and another 6-carriage SW consist, plus
7811-493: The mid-1980s were made up of de-motorised former 88-seater railcars known as " grassgrubs " in New Zealand railfan jargon . Passenger services through the lowly populated northern Wairarapa survived due to the poor roads in the area, but as they were improved, demand for the trains declined. Masterton – Palmerston North passenger trains ceased from Monday, 1 August 1988 with the last such service running on Friday, 29 July. In
7918-496: The morning and one in the evening. Train numbers for the service are 1601 to 1616. The 6 specifies the train leaves Wellington via the Hutt Valley Line, while the 1 specifies a Masterton-bound service (2 indicates Upper Hutt, 4 indicates Taita, and 5 indicates Melling). Down services (towards Wellington) have odd numbers, while up services (towards Masterton) have even numbers To avoid Hutt Valley passengers overcrowding
8025-645: The north are the school and truck stop of Māpiu. Taumarunui was originally a Māori settlement at the confluence of the Ongarue River with the Whanganui, important canoe routes linking the interior of the island with the lower Whanganui River settlements. Some places, notably the valley of the Pungapunga Stream, which joins the upper Whanganui near Manunui, were celebrated for the size and quality of totara, and large canoes were built there. The area
8132-586: The past. Carriages are the SW class, rebuilt British Rail Mark 2 carriages introduced in 2007 to replace the NZR 56-foot carriages used since the service's introduction, some of which were 70 years old. Eighteen carriages are used – twelve SW with 64 seats; three SWS with 37 seats, wheelchair hoist and disabled toilet; and three SWG with 37 seats, luggage compartment and generator. The carriages are formed into three sets of between three and eight carriages, consisting of (from
8239-581: The phasing in of the new all-over Cato blue livery of the new Tranz Rail corporate image, a light blue 350-mm full-length stripe was introduced, and a new name for Cityrail, Tranz Metro . From the beginning of the refurbishment of the seventh car, the new Cato blue livery was applied, along with the Tranz Metro logo. In 1995, two of the four ALs were equipped with generators similar to those installed in power-baggage vans used by long-distance passenger trains, making them power-luggage vans. In 2002 one car
8346-580: The principal pa and taking prisoner the chief of the district was headed by "Ki Maru". His warriors, to show their appreciation of his prowess and the honour of the victory, acclaimed him "Tau-maru-nui", which means "Maru the Great", or "Maru the Conqueror", that name was taken for the district and has been used ever since." On State Highway 4 south of Taumarunui are the villages of Manunui , Piriaka , Kakahi , Ōwhango , Raurimu and then National Park . To
8453-592: The proposed $ 196 million for the region included $ 96 million for the Wairarapa Line; $ 50 million in the Wairarapa and $ 46.2 million south of the Rimutaka Tunnel including double-tracking the Trentham to Upper Hutt section. Work is to start in April 2019. The double-tracking was completed in November 2021. Other "infrastructure renewals" on the line include three bridges with timber elements and track renewal (including in
8560-416: The purchase of tri-mode multiple units for the line, similar to bi-mode multiple units used overseas. In 2023 it was announced that 18 four-car trains will be built for Capital Connection and Wairarapa services. Proposals have been made to extend the electrification into the Wairarapa and the Rimutaka Tunnel was constructed to allow overhead lines to be installed, although before opening diesel operation
8667-468: The railway was extended to serve them. In 1954, it re-joined the western line south of Manor Park and superseded the old route. On 1 March 1954 the former Hutt Valley Branch became part of the Wairarapa Line. The western route was truncated into the Melling Branch from Petone, with the Lower Hutt railway station becoming the Western Hutt railway station . The deviation included a new bridge across
8774-413: The service, passengers boarding a Masterton-bound Wairarapa Connection service at Wellington and alighting before Maymorn station must pay the full fare from Wellington to Maymorn ($ 10.50 as of July 2016). Those using ten-trip tickets and monthly passes must pay the cash fare difference as a surcharge, i.e. $ 5.00 for Petone and Waterloo, $ 1.00 for Upper Hutt. Warnings about the minimum fare are placed on
8881-474: The services between Wanganui and Taumarunui until the late 1920s, when the condition of the river deteriorated. Later, Taumarunui gained importance with the completion of the North Island Main Trunk line in 1908–09 (celebrated in the 1957 ballad " Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line " by Peter Cape , about the station refreshment room). The line south of Taumarunui caused considerable problems due to
8988-464: The significance of the Wairarapa Line declined, especially on the section north of Masterton. KiwiRail is currently investigating a log shipment hub in Masterton that would mean log traffic would use the northern portion of the Wairarapa Line, from Masterton to Napier. In February 2012, it was reported that the total freight carried on the northern section of the line had increased from 74,031 tonnes in 2009 to 97,139 tonnes in 2011, although this figure
9095-522: The six SE class to relieve capacity constraints especially on evening services. The Wellington Metro Rail Upgrade project (2020-2021) started in November 2019; and is expected to take eighteen months and cost $ 300 million. The single-track Trentham-Upper Hutt section will be double-tracked and equipped for bi-directional signalling so that trains can run on either track in either direction between Upper Hutt and Trentham (and possibly later to Heretaunga). Signalling, track and three bridges will be renewed, and
9202-412: The slip and the derailed rolling stock blocked the line, preventing services operating until Sunday evening (26 July). The accident highlighted a flaw in the design of the pneumatically-operated interior doors in the SW carriages, which stuck in position when the compressed air supply was lost as a result of the locomotive being shut down. Three people were needed to open them by hand, sparking concerns that
9309-594: The terrain, and has several high viaducts and the famous Raurimu Spiral . The Stratford–Okahukura Line to Stratford connected just north of Taumarunui. In more recent times, the town's economy has been based on forestry and farming. It has gained in importance as a tourism centre, especially as an entry point for voyagers down the scenic Wanganui River and as the possessor of a high-quality golf course. 1800s 1900–1914 1914–1939 1939–1999 Town Mayors immediately prior to 1988 include: Charles Binzegger, Les Byars and Terry Podmore. 2000s Taumarunui County
9416-478: The three remaining Endeavour cars, of which two were ALs, became redundant, so the 54-seat A car and one 46-seat AL were assigned to Wairarapa services. With the streamlining of Greymouth expresses into one out-and-back operation, one Picton car became surplus to requirements and joined the Masterton fleet. In 1993, after the successful re-introduction and rebranding of the Capital Connection service,
9523-456: The train. There are 28 public level crossings between Rimutaka tunnel and Masterton, of which three are controlled by alarms and barrier arms, 19 by alarms only, and six by signs only. Between Wellington and the Rimutaka tunnel there are four, all controlled by alarms and barrier arms. On 17 October 1997, the mid-morning service to Wellington broke down 2.5 km into the Rimutaka Tunnel from
9630-447: The tunnel (which has a gradient of 0.25% to 0.55%) if they became disabled. Emergency services on either side of the tunnel now carry out training exercises every 2–3 years in preparation for such a situation. On 23 July 2009, the 17:33 service to Masterton hit a mudslide blocking the line just north of Maoribank tunnel near Maymorn. The locomotive, DCP4818, and the first carriage, SWG3422, derailed . Only minor injuries were reported, but
9737-406: The two-position home signal, which allows shunting movements to be carried out without the need for a Track Warrant. Along with Horotiu (on the NIMT between Te Rapa and Ngāruawāhia) Masterton still has Woods Points Keys. The Horotiu ones are not in regular use. Seven railway preservation organisations are based on or close by the Wairarapa Line. NZRLS has a workshop based at the northern end of
9844-602: The underframes were not designed to be towed in the long term and they deteriorated rapidly, bringing about their demise by 1985. The introduction of the EM class "Ganz-Mavag" electric multiple units to the Wellington suburban system meant eleven 56-foot carriages became available, and the cancellation of the unnamed daylight successor to the New Plymouth Night Express that ran between New Plymouth and Taumarunui freed more. A wooden 50-foot Z bogie box wagon
9951-531: The western Taupō district to Tapapa. In the early 1880s the first surveys of the King Country commenced, and by the early 1890s the Crown had begun the purchase of large areas of land. In 1874, Alexander Bell set up a trading post, and became the first European settler. The town has a road called Bell Road. During the New Zealand Wars a resident named William Moffatt manufactured and supplied Māori with
10058-516: Was $ 226m, with option 2 being $ 82m. The Wairarapa line used four of the six New Zealand railway signalling systems: Double Line Automatic (DLA) , Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) , Track Warrant Control (TWC) and Station Limits. Signalling at Petone is future-proofed for conversion to a fifth system, Automatic Signalling Rules (ASR). The Wairarapa Line had a number of lasts for railway signalling in New Zealand: Prior to
10165-560: Was 9.9, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.9% had no religion, 36.1% were Christian , 5.0% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.8% were Hindu , 0.2% were Muslim , 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 315 (8.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,119 (30.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 210 people (5.7%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
10272-456: Was activated. The train was removed from the tunnel two hours later by a relief locomotive from the Featherston end after a haphazard response on both sides of the tunnel. There were no injuries, although some elderly passengers required medical treatment due to the distress of the event. After the incident, changes were made to the Train Control telephones so they would self-test and track occupancy rules were modified to allow trains to coast out of
10379-525: Was adopted. In 2007, the Greater Wellington Regional Council rejected a call for the line to be electrified to Masterton, stating that patronage was too low to justify the capital expenditure. In May 2021, KiwiRail, Beca and Systra published the North Island Electrification Study, which put forward two options for electrification expansion for the Wairarapa Line from Upper Hutt to Masterton: The estimated costs of option 1
10486-407: Was built for the Incline but did not prove as successful as the six H locomotives and was retired in 1917. When the Rimutaka Tunnel opened in November 1955, the Wairarapa Line became the first in New Zealand to be fully dieselised as steam locomotives were unable to pass through the tunnel. Initially, D and D class diesels were employed, and they were soon joined by the D class . Until 1967,
10593-620: Was defined in the Waikato and King-country Counties Act 1922, this statute states: All that area of land in the Auckland and Wellington Land Districts bounded towards the north generally by the Waitomo and Taupō Counties (as described in the Third and Ninth Schedules to this Act respectively); on the east generally by Lake Taupō and Taupō County; on the south generally by the middle of
10700-424: Was employed. This used a centre rail to which specially-designed locomotives and brake vans clung, allowing them to climb the steep slope upwards or control the descent. Despite the terrain, construction of this unique route was completed swiftly, opening to Featherston on 12 October 1878. Construction from Featherston to Masterton across the Wairarapa plains north of Lake Wairarapa was relatively easy. The decision
10807-522: Was inflated by a ten-day closure of the Manawatū Gorge section of the railway line due to a slip. Presently freight services operate at each end of the line. Log and other wood-related traffic is moved between Wellington and Waingawa , just south of Masterton, with one overnight and one daylight return service on weekdays, and a daylight service operates both weekend days. Two freight trains operate from Palmerston North to Pahiatua and return on weekdays,
10914-477: Was on Thursday 18 May on train 1602, departing Wellington at 8.25 am. In early 2007, the longest Wairarapa Connection consist (seven cars and van), which formed the weekdays 6.30 am from Masterton and 4.33 pm from Wellington had five cars replaced by ones from the now-disbanded charter fleet so that their Korean bogies can be overhauled and placed under five of the new SW cars. The charter cars run on old NZR Timken bogies limited to 80 km/h, not
11021-505: Was refitted with bogies that enabled it to run at passenger-train speed and was painted the same shade of bright red as the cars it accompanied. In the style of the new Fastrak and Northtrak express parcels logos that emphasised the new approach and priority of parcels traffic, the wagon had a logo known as Waitrak, as it was dedicated to Wairarapa services. In 1989, with the introduction of the Bay Express between Wellington and Napier,
11128-540: Was refurbished for the Wairarapa but retained original seating, albeit reupholstered. In 2003 the other car was rebuilt and refurbished for use as a "small window" air-conditioned car for the NIMT passenger trains. A third car was stripped to the underframe but retained its compartment-dividing walls for profile purposes, while the fourth was scrapped. From 1999 onward, due to age and related deterioration, gradual withdrawal from service of older carriages occurred, and cars from long-distance Tranz Scenic services were used on
11235-459: Was removed to increase seating capacity , while ALs seated 46. The other two A cars and the remaining AL were overhauled but retained their Scarrett seats, reupholstered with cloth material. The overhauls saw the introduction of the new InterCity Rail blue livery, with a 220-mm white stripe and 100-mm green band inside it running the length of each car, with "Cityrail" emblazoned on both ends of each car. In 1995, as an interim measure leading up to
11342-463: Was taken to bypass Greytown and build the line through Woodside to bridge the Waiohine River at a point far enough up the river to be considered safe; a line through Greytown would have required a bridge at a point considered unsafe by the surveyors. The Greytown Branch was constructed from Woodside, and Greytown was briefly the effective terminus of the Wairarapa Line from the opening of
11449-504: Was that 1,362 (37.1%) people were employed full-time, 489 (13.3%) were part-time, and 270 (7.4%) were unemployed. Under the Köppen , Taumarunui has an Oceanic climate :( Cfb ). Due to location, low altitude and Geography surroundings, Taumarunui is more liable to warm to hot summers than other central North Island centres and in winter, Taumarunui is cold and frosty. Rainfall yearly is 1,449 mm (57.047244 in). Annual sunshine yearly
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