Plimmerton railway station facts for kids

The Plimmerton railway station is an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) line. It is located in Plimmerton, Porirua, New Zealand. This station is part of Wellington's Metlink suburban train network, which is run by Transdev Wellington.

The station has two tracks that go around a long platform in the middle. You can get to the platform using an underground walkway from Steyne Avenue and the Park and Ride car park. There is also a special crossing at the south end of the platform that leads to Steyne Avenue and a place called Mainline Steam. Mainline Steam is a group that fixes up and runs old steam trains, and their workshop is right next to the station.

Train Services

Plimmerton is the third station north of Porirua on the Kapiti Line. This line is used by commuter trains operated by Transdev Wellington under the Metlink name. These services are managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Trains that run between Wellington and Waikanae are electric trains called Matangi units. Two other trains, the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer, are pulled by diesel engines. These trains pass through Plimmerton station but do not stop there.

Stopping at Plimmerton

All local trains going between Wellington and Plimmerton or Waikanae stop at Plimmerton. During quieter times of the day, trains stop at every station between Wellington and Waikanae.

During busy times (peak periods), some trains from Wellington might stop at all stations until Porirua and then go back to Wellington. Other peak trains might go faster, skipping some stops between Wellington and Porirua, before stopping at every station from Porirua to Waikanae. Plimmerton is also the last stop for some trains during peak times, which then turn around and go back to Wellington.

Travel Times and Frequency

A train ride from Plimmerton takes about:

• 31 minutes to Waikanae.
• 8 minutes to Porirua.
• 29 minutes to Wellington if the train stops at all stations.
• 25 minutes to Wellington if the train runs express (faster) between Porirua and Wellington.

During the day, when it's not rush hour, trains usually run every 20 minutes. They run more often during busy times and less often at night. Before July 2018, trains ran every 30 minutes during off-peak hours, but this was changed to every 20 minutes from 15 July 2018.

Station Facilities

Inside the Plimmerton station building, there is a special shop called Mack's Track. This shop sells model trains, acts as a place to buy train tickets, and has a small cafe. It also helps look after the waiting room for passengers.

The station also has places to park your bicycle and lockers to keep them safe. There is a large car park next to the station at Plimmerton Domain, which is called a "park and ride" car park. This means you can park your car and then take the train.

There are plans to start building a new train loop at Plimmerton in 2021. This loop will help trains turn around more easily.

Station History

The railway line that goes through Plimmerton was built by a company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). The train line reached Plimmerton in 1885. Back then, Plimmerton was a very popular beach spot. People from Wellington would ride the train to Plimmerton on weekends to enjoy the beach and the water.

The first station building was built in 1885 on the west side of the tracks. This building was replaced in 1940 when the railway line was made into two tracks. For many years, the new station building was also used for community events. The station had staff working there until 1989. Even today, it has a control panel that is used to help Mainline Steam trains and other railway operations.

The Plimmerton Residents' Association thought the station building was very important. They wanted to make sure it was looked after as part of a plan for the local area.

Station Building Reopening

The station building was closed to the public in October 1989. In 2004, there was a chance the building might be pulled down. But the local community and the Porirua City Council wanted to save it. They worked to get support to fix the empty station instead of replacing it with simple shelters.

It took a while to get the money and plans ready. In 2009, Tranz Metro (the train operator at the time) and the Plimmerton Residents' Association (PRA) signed an agreement. This agreement was about fixing up the station building and how it would be used in the future. Tranz Metro also signed an agreement with Mack's Track (the model railway shop) for them to rent the building once it was fixed.

With help from other groups, like the Porirua City Council and the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand, they started the repair work. The agreement with Mack's Track meant that someone would be using the building once it was finished.

Mack's Track played a big part in this project. When the station building was finished, they moved in. They opened a ticket office, a cafe, and their model railway shop. They also acted like a "Station Master" with the PRA, helping to look after the public waiting room and other things for train passengers and the local community.

The fixed-up station building officially reopened on 10 October 2010. This was a special day because it marked:

• 125 years since trains first came to Plimmerton.
• 70 years since the current station building opened and the train line became electric.
• 21 years since the station building had been closed to the public.

The Plimmerton Station Restoration Project has been praised for how the community, the train company, and the local council worked together. This partnership helped save a piece of local history while also making the modern train system better. In 2011, the project received an award from the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. It was called "a model for other station restorations throughout the country."