First new Wellington train due August

The first of Wellington’s new Matangi trains is due to arrive in August, and passengers can expect to be onboard before Christmas.

Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Transport and Access Committee, says the unit will go from the port to Wellington rail yards for thorough testing. “As well as a complete testing of the train, we’ll need to be sure that everything on the network – such as signalling, power supply and platforms – are working for the new trains.”

The new trains will arrive regularly from August until towards the end of 2011.

Testing of the first units will take place on the Hutt Valley line, and could take a couple of months. “So people will see the new trains running up and down the line for some time before they begin service, but we expect they will be carrying passengers before Christmas.”

The new trains will run initially on the Hutt Valley line, then Johnsonville, followed by Kapiti. “New trains will be running on all lines by June 2011.”

Peter Glensor says when there are sufficient numbers of new trains in service, they will replace the 12 English Electric cars that run on the Johnsonville Line. “So there will be a temporary reduction in the number of Matangi trains on the Hutt Valley line for a short time.”

The entire 37-car English Electric fleet will be retired when there are enough Matangi trains in service. A decision on whether to replace or fully refurbish the GanzMavag fleet will be made by Greater Wellington later this year; a prototype refurbishment is under way at KiwiRail’s Woburn workshops.

Features of the new Matangi trains include a modern, stainless steel body; a low floor multi-function area in one car of each two-car unit for passengers with wheelchairs, buggies and bicycles; air-conditioned cooling and heating; doors operating on demand; open movement between a two-car unit; hearing loops in all cars; a public address system; and information systems with automated visual and audio next station information.

“People in the Wellington region love their trains. Unfortunately their loyalty is being sorely tested at present as a huge amount of work goes on to prepare the network for the new trains – and turn back years of neglect and under-investment by previous owners.

“But we’re confident that the year will end on a much brighter note for many Wellington rail passengers as they enjoy the comfort and convenience of modern Matangi train travel.”