Capital Connection
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tranz Scenic Capital Connection[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Capital Connection is a long-distance commuter passenger service between Palmerston North and Wellington on the North Island Main Trunk Railway in New Zealand.[2] It is operated by Tranz Scenic. Originally named the Cityrail Express, with "Cityrail EXPRESS Palmerston North - Wellington" emblazoned on carriage sides, it began on Monday, 15 April 1991.
Contents |
[edit] Operator
From 1991 to 2001, the service was operated by CityRail, then by Tranz Metro. With the partial sale of Tranz Scenic and because Tranz Rail sought to separate its commercial passenger rail operations from its subsidised services, it was transferred to Tranz Scenic in 2001. In 2003, Tranz Scenic was bought by Toll NZ, who had previously brought a majority shareholding in Tranz Rail, and re-integrated the passenger services.
[edit] Service
The service operates Monday - Friday from Palmerston North to Wellington in the morning, returning to Palmerston North in the evening.
[edit] Weekend services
On Sunday 19 June 1994 a weekend service from Palmerston North to Wellington and return started, giving Manawatu residents the opportunity to spend the day or weekend in Wellington before the train returned to Palmerston North for its southbound Monday morning run. The power/baggage van, catering car and former Masterton car turned 50-seat (alcove-style with tables) day car made up the consist. Unfortunately, it attracted minimal usage and was terminated in 1994.
[edit] Rolling stock and motive power
The service began using standard NZR 56-foot carriages: the first of two power-baggage vans from the Bay Express, a 50-seat Southerner car, a 42-seat Northerner car and a 37-seat Northerner catering car. When the Northerner and Southerner cars were returned to their respective trains and patronage continued to increase, a former Masterton commuter car was refurbished to the same standard, with the same 50 alcove-style seats as the Southerner car, but with sheepskin seat covers. Later, a former Endeavour car with luggage space at one end and a former Picton - Greymouth car, both from on the Masterton commuter run, were refurbished for the service. Later still, up to five more Masterton cars, a Northerner car, the second Northerner catering car and the sole InterCity spare buffet car saw service. Before these carriages were replaced, the service was regularly running with a van and eight cars.
[edit] British Rail carriages
Monday 15 November 1999 saw eight British Rail Mark 2 (ex first, then standard class) cars, and the second former Southerner modular 11 kW power and baggage van, with 90 kW generator and larger luggage space made up from the middle and expanded non-handbrake end compartments, debut. The new cars are about three metres longer than the older cars and more spacious inside, with more headroom, full air-conditioning, 60 seats per car (except the servery car, which seats 31), and twin power sockets at the foot of each pair of seats. Seating arrangement is both alcove and airline-style, using their British Rail InterCity 72 seats. The train is usually hauled by two DC class locomotives.
Less than two years later plans were put in motion to refit the Masterton - Wellington Wairarapa Connection long-distance commuter trains to the same or similar standard to the reintroduced and revitalised Manawatu commuter train.
The carriages have poor brake performance relative to other carriages in New Zealand using the same Triple Valve (A Cars)[citation needed]. The new Wairarapa carriages also made from British Rail Stock will have the WG1 Triple Valve which incorporates Graduated Release and an almost Instantaneous Recharge through the use of Main Reservoir air. Presently they are being repainted from "Cato blue" to a new livery.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- ^ Capital Connection timetable. Tranz Scenic. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- ^ Capital Connection: Commuting made easy. Tranz Scenic. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
|
||||||||||||||||||
