NZTA confirms funding for Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail

The business case for a passenger rail start-up trial from Hamilton to Auckland has been approved by the NZ Transport Agency. The five-year trial is estimated to cost $78.2 million, of which NZTA will contribute $68.4 million and the remaining $9.8 million will come from local authorities.

The initial service will start in Frankton, Hamilton and continue to a new station at The Base in Rotokauri before heading to Huntly and finally stopping in Papakura, where passengers can change trains and continue into Auckland on the Auckland network.

The service is expected to start March 2020 with a four-carriage train which can carry 150 passengers each way. Future stops could include Te Kauwhata, Pokeno and Tuakau.

The NZTA will work with local councils and KiwiRail to develop a pre-implementation plan in early 2019.

Media Relations
Sonya Fynmore
+64 21 404 206
Sonya.fynmore@winton.nz

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