Ohinewai railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ohinewai Railway Station
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A view from 1940 showing the Waikato River (left), Great South Road at Ohinewai, and the Ohinewai railway station (right). Today, the Waikato Expressway runs through the middle.
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| Location | Ohinewai New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 37°29′21″S 175°09′40″E / 37.48917°S 175.16111°E |
| Owned by | KiwiRail Network |
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk |
| Tracks | double track from 14 Dec 1958 to north from 27 August 1939 to south |
| History | |
| Opened | 13 August 1877 |
| Closed | 10 April 1965 passengers 31 December 1978 goods |
The Ohinewai Railway Station was once an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line in New Zealand. It served the small town of Ohinewai in the Waikato District. This station was about 59 kilometres (37 miles) south of Auckland. It was also 8.18 km (5.08 mi) north of Huntly and 7.26 km (4.51 mi) south of Rangiriri. The station was located right in the village, just north of Tahuna Road.
| Preceding station |  National Rail |
Following station | ||
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| Rangiriri Line open, station closed |
North Island Main Trunk New Zealand Railways Department |
Kimihia Line open, station closed |
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Contents
A Look Back: Ohinewai Station's Story
The Ohinewai railway station first opened its doors on 13 August 1877. Back then, trains were much slower than they are today. A train trip from Ohinewai to Auckland would take about 4 hours and 45 minutes. That's a long time for a journey that's now much quicker!
Keeping Trains Safe: Tablet Signalling
In 1905, a system called "tablet signalling" was put in place. This was a way to make sure trains could safely share the tracks. It helped prevent accidents by controlling which trains could enter a section of track at any given time.
Station Staff and Community Life
By 1915, the station had a storeman working there. Sadly, this storeman was killed during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I. This shows how the station was a part of the community, and its staff were affected by major world events.
Changes in Travel: Roads vs. Rails
In 1925, people in Ohinewai were upset because the only train that allowed a day trip to Auckland was stopped. Around the same time, the Great South Road near Ohinewai was improved. It was covered with metal (gravel) so it could be used all year round.
Soon after, in 1929, a bus service started connecting Ohinewai with Auckland, Morrinsville, and Te Aroha. This meant people had another way to travel. The train service at Ohinewai became less useful. During World War II, there was even a plan to connect buses with trains at Ohinewai, but it had to be changed to Mercer instead because the Ohinewai train service wasn't good enough.
Expanding the Tracks: Double Lines
To help trains move more smoothly and reduce delays, a plan to add a second track (called "track doubling") was approved in 1914. However, this work was delayed because of World War I.
Finally, 300 workers helped to double the track between Huntly and Ohinewai. This new double track opened on 27 August 1939. Later, the track doubling continued north to Te Kauwhata, opening on 14 December 1958. Having two tracks meant trains could pass each other more easily, making the railway line more efficient.
The Station's Final Years
As road transport became more popular, fewer people used the train station. In 1965, the Ohinewai station closed for passengers. Then, on 31 December 1978, it closed completely for all services, including goods.
