Paekakariki railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paekākāriki
Metlink suburban rail
Signal House, Paekākāriki railway station
Location	Robertson Road, Paekākāriki, New Zealand
Coordinates	40°59′14″S 174°57′16″E / 40.98722°S 174.95444°E / -40.98722; 174.95444
Owned by	Greater Wellington Regional Council
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Platforms	Island Platform
Tracks	Mainline (2)
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	8
History
Opened	3 November 1886
Electrified	24 July 1940
Services
Preceding station   Transdev Wellington   Following station Paraparaumu toward Waikanae Kapiti Line Pukerua Bay toward Wellington
Heritage New Zealand – Category I
Official name: Paekakariki Railway Yard Water Vats and Signal Box
Designated:	25-Sep-1986
Reference #:	4705 and 4706
Heritage New Zealand – Category II
Official name: Paekakariki railway station and Goods Shed
Designated:	29-Nov-1985
Reference #:	4959 and 4961

The Paekākāriki railway station is located in Paekākāriki on the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand. It's a stop on the Kapiti Line for Metlink's electric commuter trains from Wellington.

From 1940 to 1983, Paekākāriki was the last stop for these commuter trains. Later, the service was extended to Paraparaumu and then to Waikanae in 2011.

The station first opened in 1886. In the past, extra locomotives were added here to help trains climb the steep "hill" towards Pukerua Bay. Also, from 1940 to the 1960s, steam locomotives were swapped for electric ones here for the journey to Wellington.

Today, the large wooden station building on an island platform is home to a museum and a bookshop. There's also a restored signal box and a level crossing at the south end. Steam Incorporated uses most of the rail yard to preserve old trains. Some of the station buildings are protected as historic places.

What Trains Stop at Paekākāriki?

Paekākāriki is one of the last stops on the Kapiti Line for commuter trains. These trains are run by Transdev Wellington under the Metlink brand. They are managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

The trains that stop here are electric multiple units, often called Matangi trains. They travel between Wellington and Waikanae. Other trains, like the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer, pass through but do not stop. Large diesel-hauled freight trains also pass by. Sometimes, southbound freight trains might stop to add an extra engine for help on steep hills.

How Long Does it Take to Travel?

A train ride from Paekākāriki takes about 14 minutes to Waikanae. It takes around 15 minutes to Porirua. To reach Wellington, it's about 46 minutes if the train stops at every station. Express trains that skip stops between Porirua and Wellington take about 41 minutes.

Train Schedule and Frequency

During the day, outside of busy times, trains run every 20 minutes. They run more often during peak hours (when many people travel to and from work or school). At night, trains run less frequently. All trains traveling between Waikanae and Wellington stop at Paekākāriki.

The Station's Past

The railway line from Wellington to Paekākāriki first opened on 3 November 1886. It was part of the Wellington-Manawatu Line. This line was built by a company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR).

Name Change Over Time

Before 1905, the station's name was spelled Paikakariki. The official name of the town was changed to Paekākāriki (with special marks called macrons) on 21 June 2019. These macrons help show the correct way to say the name.

Early Long-Distance Trains

The first long-distance trains from Auckland to Wellington started running on 14 February 1909. These trains took over 19 hours to complete the journey and included a stop at Paekākāriki.

Electrification and Modern Trains

The railway line from Wellington to Paekākāriki became electric on 24 July 1940. This meant that electric trains could now run between Wellington and Paekākāriki. In the 1950s, newer electric trains called multiple units were introduced. These trains replaced most of the older ones pulled by locomotives.

After 1940, steam locomotives were not allowed to go south of Paekākāriki. This was because their smoke caused problems in the long tunnels closer to Wellington. So, long-distance passenger and freight trains had to change from electric to steam locomotives at Paekākāriki.

In the 1950s, diesel-electric locomotives started replacing steam engines for long-distance trains. However, locomotives still had to be changed at Paekākāriki. This was because the new diesel locomotives were too big for some tunnels between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki. Workers later lowered the floors of these tunnels. By the 1960s, diesel locomotives could travel all the way to Wellington, making locomotive changes at Paekākāriki unnecessary.

However, electric locomotives were still kept at Paekākāriki. They were used to help push trains up the steep hill from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay. In the 1980s, more modern trains and stronger diesel locomotives meant these electric helper engines were no longer needed.

Extending the Electric Line

The electric railway line was extended north from Paekākāriki to Paraparaumu. This new section officially opened on 7 May 1983. This allowed the commuter train service to extend to Paraparaumu, which became the new northern end of the line. Before 1983, people used buses to travel from Paekākāriki to Paraparaumu and Raumati.

Past Features of the Station

In the past, the station had a refreshment room where people could buy food and drinks. It also had a depot for steam locomotives. The refreshment room closed when trains no longer needed to stop there to change locomotives. There were also two signal boxes, a shed for trains, a turntable to turn locomotives around, and facilities for water, coal, and oil.

The Paekakariki Station Precinct Trust is a group that works to look after the railway station area. They want to use it for fun, history, tourism, and education.