Porirua railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Porirua
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| Metlink suburban rail | |||||||||||
2013 aerial view of Porirua City Centre and Station
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| Location | Station Road, Porirua, New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°08′15″S 174°50′36″E / 41.1376°S 174.8434°E | ||||||||||
| Owned by | KiwiRail (platform and track); Greater Wellington Regional Council (building and subway) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Platforms | Island Platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | Mainline (2) | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Platform levels | 1 | ||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 21 September 1885 | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1960 | ||||||||||
| Electrified | 1940 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The Porirua railway station is a busy train station in New Zealand. It is on the Kapiti Line, which connects Wellington to other towns. This station is part of the Metlink train network. Transdev Wellington operates the trains here.
The station has an island platform, which means trains stop on both sides. It is on a double track section of the North Island Main Trunk. The station first opened in 1885. You can use a subway (an underground walkway) to get to Porirua city centre and bus stops.
Contents
Train Services at Porirua
Porirua station is served by electric multiple units. These are modern electric trains. The Greater Wellington Regional Council owns these trains. Transdev Wellington operates them for the council.
Kapiti Line Trains
Porirua is a stop for Kapiti Line commuter trains. These trains run between Wellington and Waikanae. The trains used are called Matangi trains.
Two other types of trains pass through Porirua but do not stop. These are the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer. They are pulled by diesel engines.
Train Schedule and Travel Times
During off-peak hours (not busy times), trains stop at all stations. They run every twenty minutes during the day. This schedule started on 15 July 2018. Before that, trains ran every thirty minutes.
During peak periods (busy times like morning and evening), some trains run express. This means they go straight between Wellington and Porirua without stopping. Other peak trains may end their journey at Porirua or Plimmerton.
A train ride from Porirua to Wellington takes about 21 minutes. A trip to Waikanae takes about 39 minutes.
Station Importance and Facilities
Porirua station is a key hub for bus services. Buses connect the station to areas like Titahi Bay and Porirua East. In 1968, a writer named Hoy noted how important the station was. He said many trains ended their journeys there. He also mentioned the many buses waiting to take passengers to other parts of Porirua.
The station has a modern design. It includes a ticket office and a waiting room. Subways connect the station to bus stands on both sides of the tracks.
In 2010–11, the station building and platforms were improved. These improvements cost over $1 million. By 2014, Porirua was called the second busiest station in the region.
The station also has a large park and ride area. This means you can park your car and then take the train. In 2015, there were 480 parking spaces. More spaces were added in 2017. Parking at the station is free.
History of Porirua Station
The railway line through Porirua was built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). The section from Johnsonville to Paremata (which includes Porirua) opened on 24 September 1885.
Electrification and Upgrades
The New Zealand government took over the line in 1908. In 1940, the line became electric. This happened after the Tawa Flat deviation was opened. Electrification allowed new electric locomotives, called ED class, to pull trains.
Electric passenger trains, known as DM/D electric multiple units, started running to Porirua on 5 September 1949. These trains replaced most of the older, locomotive-hauled passenger trains.
The railway line from Tawa to Porirua became a double track on 15 December 1957. The current island-platform Porirua station opened on 7 November 1960. This was when the line was doubled and changed between Porirua and Mana.
A Funny Incident
In 1981, after the movie Goodbye Pork Pie came out, something funny happened. A car got stuck in the station's pedestrian subway. The driver was trying to copy a car chase scene from the movie!
Images for kids
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Platform 1 at Porirua Train Station
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Platform 2 at Porirua Train Station
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Subway Entrance to Porirua City and Bus shelter
