Paraparaumu Line

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Paraparaumu Line
Overview
Span:	Between Wellington and Paraparaumu
Total Stops:	Fifteen
Major Stops:	Wellington, Porirua, Paraparaumu

The Paraparaumu Line is the name given to the electrified southern portion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway between New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast. The Paraparaumu Line is part of the Tranz Metro group which operates commuter services in the Wellington Region ^[1]. Trains run frequently every day on the line, with stops at fifteen stations.^[2] Tranz Metro is the suburban rail system in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is part of Toll Rail.

Contents 1 Construction 2 Deviation and electrification 3 Operation 4 The future 5 Stations listed from Wellington to Paraparaumu 6 See Also 7 References

[edit] Construction

For more information, see Wellington and Manawatu Railway and North Island Main Trunk Railway

The Paraparaumu Line was constructed as the main line of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway between Wellington and Longburn south of Palmerston North. It was built by a group of Wellington businessmen frustrated with the indecision of the New Zealand Railways Department with regards to a west coast route out of Wellington.^[3] Construction of the line began in September 1882 and followed a circuitous, steep route via Johnsonville. It was opened to Plimmerton in October 1885, and on 3 November 1886, the entire line was finished, with the final spike driven in just north of Paraparaumu in Otaihanga.^[4]

On 7 December 1908, the government's Railways Department acquired the Wellington and Manawatu Railway and incorporated it into the national network as the southern portion of the North Island Main Trunk.

[edit] Deviation and electrification

For more information, see Tawa Flat deviation

In 1928, work began on a deviation to avoid the difficult Johnsonville section of the line. This deviation featured two significant tunnels from just north of Kaiwharawhara to south of Tawa. It opened to freight in 1935, but did not become part of the passenger route until 19 June 1937. Most of the Johnsonville section was retained as the Johnsonville Branch.^[5]

The line from Wellington to Paekakariki was electrified in 1940, primarily to avoid smoke nuisance in the new deviation's lengthy second tunnel, and to provide extra tractive effort on the line between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki. Paekakariki was thus established as a major station where trains swapped from steam (later diesel) to electic motive power, and it was the northern terminus of the commuter line for many years. Electrification was extended to the present Paraparaumu terminus on 7 May 1983.

[edit] Operation

From electrification until the 1980s, the majority of commuter services on the line were operated by DM class electric multiple units, with some carriage trains hauled by ED and EW class electric locomotives, especially at peak loading times. The ED and EW locomotives were retired due to age and lack of use by the start of the 1980s, and also early in that decade, the NZR EM class electric multiple units were delivered. They displaced the DM class units from most services except some peak services. DM class units are now a very rare sight on the Paraparaumu Line.

[edit] The future

Proposals exist to extend the electrification to Waikanae and possibly even Otaki, with an extension to Waikanae considered a realistic possibility at some stage in the first half of the 21st century. The section between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki may also be duplicated (ie double tracked) or replaced by a less steep deviation during this period.^[6]

In the shorter term, proposals to establish new stations at Raumati between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu and Lindale north of Paraparaumu are well advanced. New electric multiple units have been ordered and should be delivered in 2010. They are intended to replace the last of the members of the DM class and boost capacity.

[edit] Stations listed from Wellington to Paraparaumu

• Wellington Station
  
• Kaiwharawhara Station
  
• Takapu Road Station
  
• Redwood Station
  
• Tawa Station
  
• Linden Station
  
• Kenepuru Station
  
• Porirua Station
  
• Paremata Station
  
• Mana Station
  
• Plimmerton Station
  
• Pukerua Bay Station
  
• Muri Station
  
• Paekakariki Station
  
• Paraparaumu Station
  

[edit] See Also

List of Wellington railway stations

[edit] References

New Zealand Railway Lines

v • d • e Main lines v • d • e North Island: East Coast Main Trunk • North Island Main Trunk (inc. Paraparaumu Line) v • d • e South Island: Main North Line and Main South Line, known together as the South Island Main Trunk v • d • e Secondary lines v • d • e North Island: Marton - New Plymouth Line • North Auckland Line • Palmerston North - Gisborne Line • Stratford - Okahukura Line • Wairarapa Line (inc. Hutt Valley Line) v • d • e South Island: Midland Line • Nelson Section • Otago Central Railway • Stillwater - Westport Line • Waimea Plains Railway v • d • e Branch lines v • d • e Upper North Island Cambridge • Dargaville • Donnelly's Crossing • Glen Afton • Kinleith • Kumeu-Riverhead • Mount Maunganui • Murupara • Newmarket • Okaihau • Onehunga • Onerahi • Opua • Rotorua • Taneatua • Thames • Waiuku and Mission Bush v • d • e Lower North Island Ahuriri • Castlecliff and Wanganui • Foxton • Greytown • Johnsonville • Melling • Mount Egmont • Moutohora • Ngatapa • Opunake • Raetihi • Taonui • Te Aro • Waitara v • d • e Upper South Island Blackball and Roa • Cape Foulwind • Conns Creek • Eyreton • Fairlie • Little River • Lyttelton • Methven • Mount Somers • Oxford • Rapahoe • Rewanui • Hokitika/Ross • Seddonville • Southbridge • Waiau • Waimate • Whitecliffs v • d • e Lower South Island Bluff • Catlins River • Dunback and Makareao • Fernhill • Hedgehope • Kingston • Kurow • Moeraki • Mossburn • Ngapara and Tokarahi • Outram • Port Chalmers • Roxburgh • Shag Point • Tapanui • Tokanui • Tuatapere • Waikaia • Waikaka • Wairio • Walton Park • Wyndham v • d • e Private lines Glen Massey Branch • Dunedin Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway • Dun Mountain Railway • Hutt Park Railway • Kaitangata Line • Sanson Tramway • Wellington and Manawatu Railway v • d • e Significant proposals Canterbury Interior Main Line • Nelson Railway Proposals • Taupo Railway Proposals • Wainuiomata Railway Proposals