Otaki railway station (New Zealand) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ōtaki
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Ōtaki Railway Station on 15 February 2016.
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| Location | Arthur Street, Ōtaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°45′46″S 175°09′23″E / 40.7629°S 175.1564°E | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | KiwiRail | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 70.49 km (43.80 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1886 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1909, 1911 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Designated: | 5 September 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference #: | 4099 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Ōtaki railway station is a train station in Ōtaki. It is located in the Kapiti Coast District of New Zealand. This station is part of the important North Island Main Trunk railway line.
Today, the station is used by the Capital Connection train. This train helps people travel long distances between Wellington and Palmerston North.
Contents
Station History
The Ōtaki station first opened in 1886. It was built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (W&MR). On August 2, 1886, a special train ran from Longburn to Ōtaki. Back then, if you wanted to go further south, you had to switch to a coach.
The very first train that went all the way from Wellington to Palmerston North passed through Ōtaki on November 30, 1886.
The first station building was similar to other railway stations of its time. It had a waiting room for ladies and an office for the stationmaster. The train yard also had four tracks, a ramp for loading goods, and a shed for storage. There was even a place for train engines and a turntable to turn them around.
At first, the station was called New Otaki. This was to avoid confusion with the older settlement. But soon, its name was changed to just Otaki. In 1893, a special room for refreshments was added.
In 1908, the W&MR company became part of the national railway system. A new station was built in 1909, but sadly, it burned down in 1910. The station you see today was designed by a famous architect named George Troup. It opened in February 1911 and is now a protected heritage building.
Train and Bus Services
The Ōtaki station is served by the Capital Connection train. This train connects Ōtaki with Wellington and Palmerston North.
You can also catch local buses from Ōtaki station. The Metlink bus route 290 goes to Ōtaki Beach.
Future Plans for the Station
There are plans to make changes to the Ōtaki railway area.
Northern Corridor Project
As part of a big road project called the Northern Corridor, the railway line near Ōtaki was moved slightly. This happened by Easter 2019. The station yard was also moved a bit further south.
Some parts of the old platform were removed. The train passing loop was made longer, now stretching 1050 meters. The platform itself was extended south by 60 meters. This new section was also built higher to make it easier to get on and off trains. New technology was added to help trains run smoothly and safely.
Electrifying the Railway
People have been talking about extending the electric train services to Ōtaki. Currently, electric trains run on the Kapiti Line up to Waikanae. Extending this to Ōtaki would mean faster and quieter trains.
In 2012, officials looked into this idea. However, in 2014, the plan to extend electric trains to Ōtaki was put on hold. One reason was the high cost. Another reason was that new trains with toilets would be needed for the longer journey to Wellington. This could also affect the Capital Connection service.
During the 2017 general election, some groups suggested extending electrification to Ōtaki. They saw it as a good alternative to building more roads.
Ōtaki River Bridge
About 1 kilometer south of the station, the railway crosses the Ōtaki River. It uses a long steel bridge that is 293 m (961 ft) long. The bridge has 19 sections.
This bridge has been strengthened and rebuilt over the years. It was rebuilt in 1931 using a powerful electric motor to drive the piles into the ground.
