The Johnsonville Train Line

History

The line was built in the 1880s as part of the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company line to connect Wellington to Longburn. Construction started in 1879, and the first section, to Paremata, opened on 24 September 1885. The line became part of the North Island Main Trunk when the government bought the WMR in December 1908.

The line was used by railway workers from the Tarikaka Settlement in Ngaio, including early shift workers who needed to fire up steam locomotives at the Wellington depot.

Two experimental RM class railcars were briefly used on the line as NZR sought to develop economically viable railcar technology. The Westinghouse railcar was introduced in 1914 and served through to 1917. The Thomas Transmission railcar was introduced in 1916 and operated sporadically into the early 1920s. Both railcars struggled on the steep grades and revealed that further advances were needed to make railcars suitable to New Zealand's conditions.

The line became a branch when the Tawa Flat deviation of the NIMT opened to passengers in 1937, and was sometimes called The Hill (in NZR jargon). The line was electrified at 1500 V DC overhead supply, and the first passenger train using the new English Electric DM/D class electric multiple units ran on 2 July 1938. The units normal operate as two-car motor/trailer sets, four-car sets in peak hours.

The line was terminated in Johnsonville, about 100 m beyond the end of the current line: the State Highway 1 motorway on-ramp follows the route of the old line. Ngaio and Khandallah stations already had crossing loops, and a third crossing loop (without platform) at Wadestown plus new stations at Awarua Street and Simla Crescent were added.

Stations were added at Raroa (1940), Box Hill (1956) and Crofton Downs (1963). Additional DM/D class units were ordered in 1942 and supplied in 1946.

The line was reviewed in 1984 and 1993 to consider either closing or upgrading it, without any significant changes being made.

Since this time, the decision to upgrade the line has been made resulting in the lowering of the tracks through the tunnels and the lengthening of the station platforms to accomodate new carriages. These carriages are due to begin on the line in the near future.

Here is an interesting article on the Jville Line

Services

A half-hourly service runs daily, augmented to a 13/13/26 minute pattern at peak periods.

The line has been passenger-only since the termination of livestock trains for an abattoir in the Ngauranga Gorge. The livestock were originally driven on foot through Johnsonville streets, but after protests sidings near Raroa were opened on 2 February 1958. The livestock traffic ceased about 1973, though the sidings at Raroa were not lifted until about 1982. Because of the sharp curves on the line, EW class electric locomotives were used for livestock trains instead of the earlier ED class locomotives, which were hard on the track with their long rigid wheelbase.

Infrastructure

The line is single track through very steep terrain rising 150 m above sea level in its 10 km length, with the highest point (152 m) at the north end of No 6 tunnel. It has seven narrow tunnels, six bridges, three passing loops and three level crossings (two with barriers, the Fraser Avenue crossing has warning lights only). The ruling grade is 1 in 36. In 2001, an estimated 1,043 passengers use the line on a working day.

For timetable and pricing information go to www.tranzmetro.co.nz/

Newlands Urban Commuter Service

Newlands Coach Service run timetabled commuter services in Wellington - Johnsonville - Johnsonville West - Broadmeadows - Churton Park - Newlands - Paparangi - Grenada Village - Woodridge

Contact the Metlink Service Centre (formerly Ridewell) for public transport information and timetables on 0800 801 700. 

www.metlink.co.nz