Mana railway station facts for kids

Mana railway station is a train stop in Mana, a part of Porirua city in New Zealand. It's on the Kapiti Line, which is a section of the main North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT). This station is part of Wellington's Metlink train system. It has two tracks, with a platform on each side for passengers. There's also an underground walkway, called a subway, connecting the platforms.

Train Services

Mana is the second station north of Porirua on the Kapiti Line. Commuter trains run here, operated by Transdev Wellington under the Metlink name. The Greater Wellington Regional Council manages these services.

Types of Trains

Trains that stop at Mana are electric multiple units (EMUs). These are special trains that get their power from electricity. They are called the FT/FP class (Matangi trains).

Other trains, like the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer, pass through Mana station. These trains are pulled by diesel engines. They do not stop at Mana. Also, KiwiRail Scenic passenger trains and freight trains pass by without stopping.

Travel Times and Frequency

If you take a train from Mana, it takes about thirty-three minutes to reach Waikanae. It's only six minutes to Porirua. To get to Wellington, it takes about twenty-seven minutes if the train stops at all stations. Express trains, which don't stop between Porirua and Wellington, take twenty-three minutes.

Trains usually run every twenty minutes during the day, outside of busy times. During peak hours (when many people travel to work or school), trains run more often. At night, they run less frequently. Before July 2018, trains ran every thirty minutes during off-peak hours. This was changed to every twenty minutes from 15 July 2018.

During peak times, some trains from Wellington might end their journey at Porirua. They then return to Wellington. Other peak trains might travel non-stop or express between Wellington and Porirua. After Porirua, they stop at all stations up to Waikanae.

Station History

Mana station first opened on 5 September 1949. At that time, it was just a single platform stop. It was called a "halt" because it was a small stop. Only the new DM/D class Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) could stop there.

Name Change

The station and the local area were first named "Dolly Varden." This name came from a character in a book by Charles Dickens. However, many local people did not like the name. So, in 1960, the name was changed to Mana.

Double Tracking

The railway line north of Mana was made into a double track on 7 November 1960. Mana station was built to fit this new double-track system. The two platforms were ready even before the new line was finished. Because the new line was slightly different, a temporary wooden platform was built. This platform filled the space between the old track and the new platforms. It made the station look like an "aircraft carrier flight deck."

Recent Upgrades

The shelters for passengers at Mana station were replaced. New shelters were put in during the year ending June 2015.