Te Huia commuter train service to start in August

The Waikato Regional Council has confirmed the new passenger rail service between Hamilton and Papakura will begin on Monday, 3 August 2020 with two return services on weekdays and one return Saturday service.

The passenger service was recently given the name Te Huia after the New Zealand huia bird. The now extinct huia bird was prevalent throughout the North Island until the early 20^th century. Like other large New Zealand forest birds, the large wattlebird was not a strong flyer yet gracefully moved along the ground with ease, like the new passenger service from Hamilton to Auckland.

The two trains, each with four carriages, can transport up to 150 passengers each. Refurbishment of the carriages will ensure they are fit for purpose, including air conditioning, heating, restrooms, and a café bar in one of the carriages.

Creating productive working spaces with tables, power, USB points, and wifi was imperative to ensure passengers can incorporate travel time into their working day.

The earlier weekday service will depart Frankton at 5.55am and arrive in Papakura at 7.23am for passengers to switch onto the Papakura-Britomart service, departing every 10 minutes at peak times. The second service departs at 6.37am and arrives in Papakura at 8.05am. The evening services depart Papakura at 5.27pm and 6.27pm and arrive into Frankton at 6.52pm and 7.57pm, respectively. The total journey from Rotokauri to Britomart in Auckland will take an estimated 2 hours 12 – 2 hours 22 minutes, depending on the transfer time at Papakura. For more journey information, visit the Waikato Regional Council’s website.

Lakeside residents will enjoy easier connection to Hamilton with the service stopping at Huntly, Rotokauri (The Base), and Frankton. The Waikato Regional Council, along with project partners, is already looking at ways to extend the service in the future. Possibilities include additional services, increased train capacity, additional stops, and travelling north of Papakura. Given Te Kauwhata’s location and expected growth, Winton is continuing to lobby local and central government to include it as a valuable stop along the Hamilton to Auckland corridor. 

The passenger rail connection between Hamilton and Auckland is one of a number of priority projects of the Hamilton to Auckland Corridor Plan (a joint iwi-council-central government initiative).

It is being led by the Waikato Regional Council, with partners KiwiRail, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Auckland Transport.

Lakeside team

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