Johnsonville Branch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnsonville Branch
Matangi (FP class) EMU 4103 at Khandallah Station on the Johnsonville Branch in March 2011.
Overview
Status	Open, passenger only
Owner	KiwiRail (track) Greater Wellington Regional Council (stations)
Locale	Wellington, New Zealand
Termini	Wellington Johnsonville
Stations	8
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Metlink
Route number	JVL
Operator(s)	Transdev Wellington
Rolling stock	Matangi class electric multiple units
Ridership	1,119,000 per annum (2011–12)
History
Opened	24 September 1885 (as Wellington & Manawatu Railway)
Technical
Line length	10.49 km
Number of tracks	1 with 3 crossing loops
Character	Suburban
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification	1500V DC overhead
Operating speed	64 km/h (maximum) 40 km/h (in tunnels)
Highest elevation	152 m (Raroa)

The Johnsonville Line is a special train route in Wellington, New Zealand. It's a short railway line that connects the main Wellington Railway Station to the northern suburb of Johnsonville. Along the way, it passes through areas like Ngaio and Khandallah.

This line is used by people who travel to work or school every day. It's operated by Transdev Wellington and managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. In 2001, about 1,043 people used this train line on a normal weekday.

The Johnsonville Line has seven tunnels and eight stations. Four of these stations are on a curve, meaning the train bends as it stops there. These are Crofton Downs, Awarua Street, Box Hill, and Raroa. There are also three special sections called crossing loops at Ngaio and Khandallah stations, and near Wadestown. These loops allow trains going in opposite directions to pass each other.

History of the Johnsonville Line

Building the Railway

The Johnsonville Line was first built in the 1880s. It was part of a bigger railway project by a private company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. Their goal was to link Wellington to Longburn. Building started in 1879. The first part of the line, which went to Paremata, opened on 24 September 1885.

Later, in December 1908, the government bought the railway company. This line then became part of the main railway network in the North Island, known as the North Island Main Trunk.

Early Trains and Changes

For a short time, two experimental railcars were tested on the line. These were small trains that could run on their own. The Westinghouse railcar was used from 1914 to 1917. The Thomas Transmission railcar ran from 1916 into the early 1920s. Both railcars found it hard to climb the steep hills on the line. This showed that better technology was needed for New Zealand's challenging train routes.

Trains going uphill from Wellington to Ngaio often needed extra engines to help push them. Sometimes, trains going downhill from Johnsonville to Raroa also needed help.

Electrification and Modernisation

The line became a separate branch line in 1937. This happened when a new, straighter railway route called the Tawa Flat deviation opened. The Johnsonville Line was then given the nickname The Hill.

To make the line more modern, it was electrified. This meant trains would run on electricity from overhead wires. The new electric train service started on Monday, 4 July 1938. New DM/D class electric trains were used. These trains usually ran as two-car sets, but during busy times, they could be four cars long. More of these trains were added in 1946.

The Johnsonville Line used to go about 100 meters further than it does today. The current State Highway 1 motorway now follows the path of the old line. Over the years, more stations were added: Raroa in 1940, Box Hill in 1956, and Crofton Downs in 1963.

Train Services

Trains on the Johnsonville Line run every half hour, every day. During busy times, like morning and evening rush hours, trains come more often, about every 15 minutes.

This line is only for passenger trains now. It used to carry livestock (farm animals) to a meat factory in Ngauranga Gorge. The animals were first walked through Johnsonville streets. Later, special sidings (extra tracks) were built near Raroa in 1958 to load the animals directly onto trains. The livestock trains stopped running around 1973.

Railway Infrastructure

The Johnsonville Line is a single track railway. It climbs 150 meters above sea level over its 10-kilometer length. The highest point is 152 meters, at the north end of the Kaka Tunnel. The steepest part of the track is a 1 in 36 slope. Long sections from Wellington to Crofton Downs and Khandallah are also very steep, at 1 in 40.

The line has seven narrow tunnels, six bridges, and three passing loops. There are also three places where roads cross the railway with barriers. These are at Simla Crescent and Khandallah stations, and at Fraser Avenue.

Tunnels on the Line

The Johnsonville Line is famous for its tunnels. Here are their names and lengths:

Powering the Trains

Three special power stations, called traction substations, provide electricity for the trains. They take 11,000 volts from the local power network. Then, they change it into 1500 volts of direct current (DC) for the overhead wires that power the trains. These substations are in Wellington (shared with other lines), Ngaio, and Khandallah.

Upgrades and New Trains

Line Upgrades in 2008–2009

In 2006, the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and Wellington City Council looked at ways to improve public transport in North Wellington. They decided to keep the railway line and upgrade it.

Work to prepare the tunnels for new trains started in September 2008 and finished in February 2009. This work mostly happened at night to avoid disturbing commuters. The line was completely closed in January 2009 for major tunnel upgrades.

The upgrades included:

• Lowering the track and making the sides wider inside the seven tunnels.
• Making the three crossing loops longer, so longer trains could use them.
• Upgrading platforms by making them longer and safer.
• Increasing space under two bridges by lowering the track.
• Building a new power substation at Ngaio.

New Matangi Trains

A southbound DM class EMU just south of Raroa Railway Station on the Johnsonville Line in 2007. The last of the DM class EMUs was withdrawn from the line in February 2012.

The older DM/D electric trains started having many mechanical problems. So, in February 2012, some of them were taken out of service. Buses were used to help carry passengers until the new FT/FP "Matangi" trains were ready.

The first Matangi train service on the Johnsonville Line began on 19 March 2012. These new trains are modern and comfortable. However, they sometimes had issues with rail squeal (a loud noise from the wheels on curves) and keeping to the schedule, especially when it was wet. To fix this, the timetable was adjusted. Now, the journey to Wellington takes 23 minutes, and to Johnsonville, it takes 28 minutes.

Future Plans

There are plans to improve the Johnsonville area. This includes upgrading the train and bus terminal, which is now called the Johnsonville Hub.

The Broderick Road overbridge, just south of Johnsonville Station, was made wider and longer in 2015. It now has cycle lanes and more road lanes. The design also allows for two train tracks underneath in the future, if the line is ever doubled.

Future upgrades for the line include replacing overhead power lines and masts. They also plan to replace sleepers (the wooden beams under the tracks) in tunnels and make steep slopes more stable. These improvements are expected to be finished by 2022.

Images for kids

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  Napier Express climbing to Ngaio on 1 January 1911, photo by Albert Percy Godber