46-512: Thursday and Friday: Thrice-daily return Saturday: Twice-daily return Te Huia is a passenger train service between Hamilton, Papakura, and Auckland (The Strand) in New Zealand. The service is a five-year trial with subsidies from the NZ Transport Agency and Waikato local authorities. The opening was delayed because of COVID-19 and the need to replace some rail track. A new starting date
92-430: A third line from Westfield to Wiri and further new electric trains, part of up to $ 205m a year proposed by government for "transitional rail" spending, which allowed for the possibility of a Hamilton service. In 2019, the New Zealand government approved a review into upgrading the rail line to accommodate a maximum speed of 160 km/h, which would halve the journey times between Auckland and Hamilton. Also in 2019,
138-519: A café car. The refurbished (by Hutt Workshops ) former Auckland Transport SA and SD cars (ten SA and three SD, which became redundant in 2015) have been refitted into KiwiRail SR class. The two consists have two SR, one SRC and one SRV carriages; with an overall capacity of 300 passengers each way daily. This could increase to two five-carriage consists with a capacity of 400 passengers each way daily. The three carriage designs are: Te Huia sets as delivered from Hutt workshops: The carriages retain
184-480: A decline, like other public transport, due to COVID-19. Late running was also a problem in early 2022, with 47 trains on-time and 32 late, due to speed restrictions, heat speed restrictions and delays in track tamping work. Although schedules have been eased, they are sometimes not sufficient. Due largely to Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle , 11% of trains were more than 15 minutes late in January 2023, but, even without
230-473: A delay in lift installation was "due to international supply chain issues". On January 29 2020, a blessing ceremony was held at the transit hub ahead of its opening week. The signs around the hub include both English Language and Reo Māori names. The station has two through-platforms, three lifts, and three sets of stairs. The over-bridge links the bus terminal, the platforms, and The Base shopping mall. The Hamilton City Council has purchased land next to
276-571: A depiction of the extinct huia bird. The service uses overhauled DF locomotives (two operating and one spare). The empty trains run to Otahuhu railway station and the Westfield marshalling yard during the day, and will be serviced at a carriage depot at the Rotokauri railway station (Te Rapa) at night. Upgrades are being built and several proposals made for further improvements. ATAP, Auckland's 2018–2028 plan provided for Pukekohe electrification,
322-666: A group made up of local councils and the Ministry of Transport issued a ' Shared Statement of Spatial Intent'. It envisages that suburban electric services may extend to Pokeno within 10 years and that, beyond that, the whole route would be electrified and faster alignments be created via the Bombay Hills , around the Whangamarino wetland and east of Huntly. It also suggests a spur to Hamilton Airport. On opening day in 2021, Waikato Regional Council chair, Russ Rimmington said, "Te Huia
368-579: A new underground rail station in the Hamilton CBD and all allow 32 minutes for the 35 km (22 mi) between Papakura and Britomart. NZ Transport Agency NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi ( NZTA ) is a New Zealand Crown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing, and administering the New Zealand state highway network . Waka Kotahi means 'one vessel' and
414-399: A passenger service right into Auckland (Britomart if possible). Labour MP Jamie Strange expected the service to be operating by the end of 2019. A 2018 Waikato Regional Council plan aimed to have more than 95% of peak rail trips completed in less than 2h 30m (compared with 50% by road) within 5 years, 2h within 15 years and eventually 90 minutes (90 km/h (56 mph) average). In 2019,
460-586: A possible extension of Hamilton to Auckland rapid rail to Tauranga. The Ministry suggested that improvements could be made to cut the Hamilton-Auckland journey to 1h 7m, but estimated initially a 1h 22m train journey between Hamilton and Papakura and 32m for an express journey from there to Britomart. There were two intermediate options, with trains travelling at 160 km/h (99 mph) and taking 1h 28m, or at 110 km/h (68 mph) in 1h 41m. Previous options included "Tilt Trains". All four options include
506-666: A strategic business case was started in 2017. It identified the lack of a third line to Auckland and consequently, a journey time of over 2h 20m as obstacles. Regional Council's 2018 Long Term Plan consultation also includes a question asking whether Hamilton ratepayers will pay about $ 11 a year for a skeleton commuter service from Hamilton to Papakura . A paper for the same plan proposes a Hamilton–Papakura bus link, taking 1h 20m, 10 minutes faster and much cheaper, at an estimated annual cost of $ 54,000. The Sixth Labour Government promised commuter rail in 18 months to Hamilton and commuter rail to Hamilton and Tauranga . Hamilton residents want
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#1732858701523552-509: Is a railway station , park and ride , and bus station in north Hamilton , New Zealand serving Rotokauri and Te Rapa . Located on the North Island Main Trunk , it was previously a flag station , and was closed in January 1971. It reopened as an integrated transport hub in 2021 as part of Te Huia services between Hamilton and Papakura (extended to The Strand in 2022). Services started on 6 April 2021. Opening with
598-672: Is intended to convey the concept of "travelling together as one". The agency was established on 1 August 2008 by the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 , merging Transit New Zealand with Land Transport New Zealand . NZTA's board was criticised by the National Party -led opposition in July 2008 as being "stacked" with political appointees of the Labour Party -led government. A National Party-led government
644-433: Is only the start of big things, as opportunities are investigated to expand the service and make it faster.” Around $ 98 million is being spent by national and regional government, over 5 years, to collect data and help with planning the next steps. However, criticism has been made of the slow journey and paucity of intermediate stops. An indicative timetable published in 2018 showed 1h 26m, but the 2021 timetable allowed 1h 39m;
690-618: The Britomart Transport Centre which, because of capacity constraints, was not available for peak-time arrivals and departures of such a service. The proposal was dropped on a 2011 report in favour of extension only from Pukekohe to Tuakau , but that was also shelved. In 2016 the Transport Minister said, when starting work on a parallel section of Waikato Expressway costing over $ 2bn, "it will be some time before it makes its case economically". A further study to establish
736-499: The Ministry of Transport noted that slow and unreliable travel between Hamilton and Auckland is, "limiting the opportunity to strengthen economic integration and productivity of the two metropolitan areas. This is evident in: Long and unpredictable travel times due to worsening traffic congestion; Lower than expected demand between Hamilton and Auckland cities due to unpredictable travel times". The Ministry predicts car travel times north of
782-613: The National-led coalition government following the 2023 New Zealand general election . In December 2023, the New Zealand Minister of Transport Simeon Brown ordered that the agency was to give primacy to its English name. In mid-December 2023, Transport Minister Brown ordered the NZTA to halt halt funding and work on various local council projects to promote cycling, walking and public transportation. Notable projects affected by
828-599: The Newcastle to Hamilton extension of the railway from Auckland on Wednesday 19 December 1877, Te Rapa railway station was originally 3 mi (4.8 km) south of Horotiu (then named Pukete) and 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Hamilton on the NIMT . A through siding was added in 1878, it appeared in the April 1879 timetable and, by 1884, it had a passing loop for 21 wagons, a shelter shed, platform and loading bank. In 1916, it
874-637: The Silver Fern railcars as in the original Waikato Connection , though they were at the time under contract for suburban commuter trains between Auckland and Pukekohe . Proposals were floated in 2007 to reinstate the service. An interim proposal from the Rail Working Group in 2011 recommended further assessment of three options: This proposal addressed cost concerns raised by the affected local government organisations by making use of existing rolling stock and infrastructure where possible and avoiding use of
920-459: The Waikato Connection , including from Dave Macpherson, Hamilton City Council's Passenger Transport Committee chairman. The Overlander's cancellation was subsequently rescinded, eliminating the possibility of using its rolling stock on a new Waikato Connection , but other proposals have remained due to increased vehicular traffic volumes straining road capacity. These proposals include using
966-505: The Bombay Hills will be about 10% slower by 2048, despite motorway widening. The Ministry also found that car dependency put a disproportionate cost on the poor and hampers efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and accidents. It concluded that inter-city rail is the only option able to make improvements to all of these. Therefore in July 2020 the Ministry was instructed to develop the next stages for train travel in greater detail, including
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#17328587015231012-594: The Government's transportation policy change included the " Let's Get Wellington Moving " programme. On 11 March 2024, Simon Bridges was appointed a member and chairperson of the NZTA board for a three-year term. On 15 May, RNZ reported that NZTA had paid consultant PwC to design two new vehicle-spotting technologies at a cost of NZ$ 130 million only to abandon the project after the technologies were found not to work. On 16 May 2024, NZTA confirmed that it would slash over 120 jobs as part of government cutbacks. 109 of
1058-459: The Hamilton-Papakura fares were $ 12 with a card and $ 20 without and the same fares applied to Saturday services to Strand. Fares in 2023 were $ 9 and $ 15 respectively. On the first day up to 106 passengers were on the trains, but for the rest of the first week of operation passenger numbers on each train ranged between 12 and 48, with the earlier trains generally more popular than the later. On
1104-657: The affected roles came from the former Clean Car Discount , Climate Emergency Response Fund, and Let's Get Wellington Moving projects, which had been cancelled by the National-led coalition government. In early May 2024, NZTA also announced it would cut another 12 roles from its Customer and Services and Digital teams to meet the Government's 7.5% cost cutting target. NZTA stores registration , licensing and warrant of fitness details for any road-registered vehicle within New Zealand, including cars, motorbikes, trailers, trucks and earthmoving or agricultural machinery. Any member of
1150-647: The bad weather, 3 to 5% of trains were that late for most of 2022. The new schedule and extension to the Strand, from 24 January 2022, increased patronage significantly, with record numbers in April 2022, an average of 265 passengers a day - an average of 240 passengers on weekdays and 353 on Saturdays. On 11 July 2023, Te Huia was banned from entering the Auckland metro area by Waka Kotahi after two signal passed at danger (SPAD) incidents (one each in Penrose and Hamilton), forcing
1196-513: The carpark in order to allow for a potential carpark expansion, or another development. There have also been changes in the road layout around the hub, including the construction of a new road called Kiriwai Drive, named after a local ( Kaumātua ). Currently the only train is Te Huia linking Hamilton to Auckland (stopping at Papakura , Puhinui , The Strand), four times daily on weekdays (two in each direction), and once each way on some Saturdays. These services started on 6 April 2021. These were
1242-604: The first Saturday, passengers were standing and others were unable to join at Huntly. Average daily loadings in the first seven weeks were 153, 118, 222, 287, 123, 130 and 149. On 9 July 2021 it was announced that the Saturday service would from then on run to Strand Saturday services were still close to seated capacity in July, when extension to Strand allowed capacity to be doubled. After another lockdown, trains ran from 24 January to 28 February 2022 with an average of 83 passengers on weekdays and 60 on Saturdays. Te Huia has suffered from
1288-545: The first passenger services since the original station closed. Even though the Northern Explorer passes through on the NIMT, it does not stop at this station. Rotokauri Transport Hub is also a major point along several of Hamilton and Waikato's bus routes. It was planned that the hub would have 180 daily bus movements at the start, but this will increase to 400. In a fog in 1934, a southbound train from Auckland collided with
1334-469: The first train arrived 4 minutes early at Papakura, yet a car, leaving Hamilton at the same time, arrived at Britomart 35 minutes earlier than the train connection. The only competing public transport service is by InterCity bus. Bus schedules vary between 1h 35m and 2h 30m. The 2023 Te Huia timetable shows 2h 40m. Car travel can be as little as 1h 20m, though, due to congestion, 15% of peak hour car journeys exceed 2h 50m. An interim business case released by
1380-572: The inaugural chairman from 2008. In August 2019, Waka Kotahi changed the order of its name to emphasize its Māori language name "Waka Kotahi." The logo was also changed to reflect this change of order. Kane Patena was appointed the first Director of Land Transport for Waka Kotahi from 1 April 2021. In early November 2023, Waka Kotahi suspended its NZ$ 305 million Transport Choices Programme where local councils would receive funding to encourage walking, cycling and public transportation. Waka Kotahi suspended this programme amidst coalition talks to form
1426-431: The issuing of vehicle Warrant of Fitnesses under review. Mark Ratcliffe, former head of telco Chorus , was appointed interim chief executive. Nicole Rosie, former CE of WorkSafe New Zealand , replaced him as chief executive mid-February 2020. On 26 April 2019, chairman Michael Stiassny announced his resignation. On 11 June 2019, Brian Roche commenced his second term as chairman of NZTA; Roche had previously been
Te Huia - Misplaced Pages Continue
1472-603: The minister in August 2020 said that "Rapid Rail" could cost between $ 2.2 billion and $ 14.4 billion, and said there was a strong case for further investigation. Electrifying the present rail corridor would cost an estimated $ 2.157 billion with additional operating costs of $ 725 million, having trains travelling at up to 110 km/h (68 mph) with a travel time between the two centres of 1h 53m. A new standard gauge corridor would cost $ 14.425 billion; having trains travelling at 250 km/h (160 mph) and taking 69 minutes. In 2020
1518-502: The modern metro-style doors from their former Auckland Transport SA and SD class days, which are easier for wheelchair users and cyclists to use, so do not have the wide windows as fitted to the Wairarapa Connection carriages which have traditional “quarter” doors (this slightly reduces the number of seats, but the cost of door conversion was prohibitive). Carriages are painted with a livery consisting largely of gloss grey, with
1564-522: The original planned opening date, Hamilton City Council announced new opening date of the park and ride scheme on August 3 2020, and an increased cost estimate of $ 29m, this was planned to coincide with the commencement of Te Huia services. The new station was built just south of the site of the original station. The March 2020 announcement also stated that the transit hub would have a rail platform, park and ride carpark, bus interchange, roading upgrades, passenger bridge and stairs. The council also highlighted
1610-536: The outskirts of Hamilton and the site of the former Te Rapa railway station ) and Huntly railway station (to be upgraded). In late 2020, Waikato Regional Council published Te Huia's website. The new planned journey time was extended to 98 minutes (Frankton to Papakura), with intermediate stops at Rotokauri and Huntly. The fares are Adult $ 12.20 (Hamilton Stations-Papakura) with a Bee Card , or $ 17 without. Cheaper or Free fares are available for Children, Students, SuperGold (Saturdays), and Accessibility. From 12 July 2021
1656-496: The proposed service from March 2020 was expected to take 91 minutes from Frankton to Papakura, stopping at Rotokauri and Huntly; and transferring at Papakura to another train to take 2h 29m total to Britomart. In 2018 KiwiRail planned that the service would run Monday to Friday (two trains) and Saturday (one train), with a running time of 88 minutes, between Hamilton railway station and Papakura railway station , with stops at Rotokauri (a new station near The Base shopping mall on
1702-506: The public can query NZTA's database by making a request using the licence plate or VIN at an NZ Post outlet, or by using a vehicle checking website . Road signs in New Zealand fall under the authority of NZTA and are prescribed in the Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Manual. Te Rapa railway station#Rotokauri Public Transport Hub Rotokauri railway station (formerly Te Rapa railway station), also known as The Hub,
1748-620: The service to terminate at Papakura. Waka Kotahi requires the locomotives are fitted with ETCS to operate in the area. Full service from Hamilton to Auckland Strand resumed on 6 August 2023, with one week of free promotional fares. 60 to 80% of services arrive on time (or within 5 minutes). On 17 May 2024, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency announced that it would reduce funding for the Te Huia service from 75.% to 60%, commencing 1 July 2024. Te Huia uses two consists of four refurbished SA and SD carriages, each with capacity for 147 commuters and
1794-472: The startup from March to May 2020. The service introduction was then delayed to November 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to replace some rail track in the Auckland area (including Papakura) where slow (40 km/h (25 mph)) speed limits would otherwise be required had meant that the likely start month has been put back to February 2021. It was later announced to begin 6 April 2021. In November 2018,
1840-654: The train and the hub itself. At the time of the Joint Committee meeting in November 2018, the opening was scheduled for March 2020. In 2019 the Sixth Labour Government announced funding for a passenger rail link between Auckland and Hamilton, at the time called Tron Express but later called Te Huia. This funding included the construction of a transport hub in Rotokauri, alongside maintenance facilities. In March 2020,
1886-611: The transport hub was announced in the 2018-2028 10 Year Plan. At a meeting of the Hamilton Public Transport Joint Committee on November 28 2018, the Council estimated the cost of a new station, park and ride and transport hub at Rotokauri to be $ 21m, with $ 6.4m allowed to land purchasing. The plan was for an integrated transit hub in north Hamilton to connect with a proposed Hamilton to Auckland passenger train. These plans were dependent on NZTA funding for both
Te Huia - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-468: The unofficially popular name of Tron Express was announced and the start date further delayed to mid-2020. But Tron received fewest positive comments and was the least well liked in focus groups , so Te Huia was then recommended by two Waikato councils. In 2019, there was also discussion over the level of NZTA funding. Detailed planning in 2018 put the start date back to March 2020. The delayed supply of new bogies from overseas delayed by two months
1978-560: Was announced, and the service began on 6 April 2021. Subject to consultation, the 2024 GPS, which sets out government spending plans for transport, does not include the $ 50m a year to 2026, for inter regional public transport, which was in the draft GPS of August 2023, issued by the previous Labour government, and which was being used to fund Te Huia. After the June 2006 announcement of the Overlander's cancellation, there were proposals to re-instate
2024-498: Was equipped with distant signals and was part of the extension of automatic signalling from Ngāruawahiā to Frankton from Sunday 30 June 1929, when the sidings were switch-locked and automatically controlled and the former single track doubled. The sidings were extended into the RNZAF stores depot , to the south east, when it was built during the war There were also bulk cement and Apple & Pear Board sidings. In July 1965 it
2070-450: Was formed after 2008 New Zealand general election , and a number of board members were reappointed or replaced. In January 2019, three members of the board of directors resigned, about six weeks after the resignation of chief executive Fergus Gammie. They were Adrienne Young-Cooper, Chris Ellis and Fran Wilde . Minister of Transport Phil Twyford said the agency had been "going through a massive change process", with its compliance work in
2116-652: Was noted that, for the past nine months, passenger bookings had been nil and, in September, approval was given to remove the station building and low-level platform. Construction of a new marshalling yard near the Racecourse began in December 1967. Modern plans for a transport hub in north Hamilton started around 2007 in the Rotokauri Structure Plan and District Plan. Eventually, land was bought in 2017, and funding for
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