Melling Branch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melling Branch | |||
The Melling Branch runs beside Western Hutt Road (State Highway 2) for its entire length. | |||
Info | |||
Type | Commuter rail | ||
System | Metlink | ||
Status | Open, passenger only | ||
Locale | Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Terminals | Petone Melling |
||
No. of stations | 2 | ||
Operation | |||
Opened | 1954-03-01 | ||
Owner | ONTRACK | ||
Operator(s) | Tranz Metro | ||
Character | Suburban | ||
Rolling stock | DM class EMUs EM class EMUs |
||
Technical | |||
Line length | 2.99 km | ||
Track length | 2.99 km | ||
Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | ||
Electrification | 1500V DC 1954-03-01 | ||
|
The Melling Branch is a branch line railway in the Hutt Valley, north of Wellington, New Zealand. It forms part of the national rail network and was formerly part of the Hutt Valley Line portion of the Wairarapa Line. It is part of Tranz Metro's electrified commuter rail system that radiates from Wellington and is branded the Melling Line.
The Melling Branch came into existence on 1 March 1954 when the former Wairarapa line north of Melling to Haywards (now Manor Park) was closed and replaced by a new line on the eastern side of the Hutt River. The line was electrified and it has operated since solely as a commuter line. Motive power since electrification has consisted of electric multiple units, originally of the NZR DM class, and since their introduction in the 1980s, primarily the NZR EM class.
[edit] Stations listed from Wellington to Melling
- Wellington Station
- Kaiwharawhara Station
- Ngauranga Station
- Petone Station
- Western Hutt Station (formerly called Lower Hutt Station)
- Melling Station