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Pukekohe railway station facts for kids

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Pukekohe
Auckland Transport Urban rail
Pukekohe Train Station.jpg
Looking south from Station Road.
Location 40 Station Road, Pukekohe, New Zealand
Coordinates 37°12′12″S 174°54′36″E / 37.203333°S 174.910000°E / -37.203333; 174.910000
Owned by KiwiRail (track and platforms)
Auckland Transport (buildings)
Line(s) Southern Line
Distance Wellington 628.86 km (390.76 mi)
Platforms Island platform
Tracks Mainline (2)
Construction
Platform levels 1
Parking Yes
Bicycle facilities No
History
Opened 20 May 1875
Rebuilt 1913
Electrified No
Traffic
Passengers (2018-19) 269,000
Services
Preceding station   MAXX (Veolia)   Following station
Terminus
Southern Line
(Pukekohe Shuttle)
Terminus
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Paerata
Line open, station closed
2.43 km (1.51 mi)
  North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
  Buckland
Line open, station closed
3.06 km (1.90 mi)

Pukekohe railway station in the township of Pukekohe is the southern terminus (but not for electric services) of the Southern Line of the Auckland railway network. The station has an island platform between the main lines and an original wooden station building complete with signal panel.

Pukekohe was 30 mi (48 km) south of Auckland in 1882, or, in 1943, 30 mi 1 ch (48.3 km) via Newmarket, or 32 mi 17 ch (51.8 km) via Orakei and 61 m (200 ft) above sea level. In 1913 the station was rebuilt to the south, away from the town centre and it was converted to an island platform in 1941 and rebuilt again from 2016.

History

Pukekohe Hotel and railway station about 1910
Pukekohe Hotel and railway station about 1910

The railway from Ōtāhuhu reached West Pukekohe in 1873 and the line opened to Mercer on 20 May 1875, though initially there was no goods service. The station caused the town centre to be refocused along King Street. A rimu and kauri 4th class station and stationmaster's house were built in 1875. Additions were made in 1878 and 1883, so that by 1884 it also had a cart approach to the platform, a 60 ft (18 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards, weighbridge and urinals. In 1902 the station had an iron roof and contained a ladies' waiting room, public vestibule, railway and postal room, and porter's room. There were four sidings in connection with the station, and the staff consisted of the stationmaster, two cadets, a messenger, and a porter. There was a Post Office at the station from 1883 to 1909, though a conflict between the departments in 1883. Further railway houses were added in 1909, 1911 and 1955.

Pukekohe railway station in 1913
The new Pukekohe station in 1913

A wooden section of platform was replaced by bitumen in 1936. In 1978 the platform was 216 m (709 ft) long.

In 1986 the footbridge was shortened and it was proposed to close the station to goods in less than wagon loads and in 1987 tenders were called for removal of the goods shed.

Upgrades

Until 1912 the station was in a deep cutting and on a heavy grade, but was then moved about 17 ch (0.34 km) south. A new class B station was built in 1913 and part of the old station was used as a goods office.

The 6 mi 11 ch (9.9 km) of track from Paerata, through Pukekohe to Tuakau was doubled from 21 November 1954. Work had started on the doubling in 1938 and the station at Pukekohe converted to an island platform in 1941.

Patronage

The table and graph below show a slow growth in passenger numbers, with a peak during World War 2. At 269,000, the current numbers far exceed even that 1943 peak of 155,392, but Pukekohe's population has grown from 3,610 in 1947 to 11,676 in 2018. However, there were fewer than 100 passengers a day in 2001, but numbers rose rapidly to over 500 by 2011.

year tickets season tickets staff source title
1881 4,637 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1881/I/967 RETURN No. 9. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1881
1882 5,004 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1882/I/824 RETURN No. 10. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1882
1883 5,002 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1883/I/895 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1883
1884 6,469 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1884/I/844 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1884
1885 5,771 31 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1885/I/1156 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1885
1886 6,216 47 3 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1886
1887 6,081 48 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1887/I/920 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1887
1888 5,107 47 2 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1889/I/1068?large_image=true RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1888
1889 5,027 27 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1889/I/1068 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1889
1890 repeats 1889 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1890/I/1064 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1890
1891 4,718 28 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1891/II/1264 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1891
1892 4,502 17 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1892/I/1164 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1892
1893 4,437 10 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1893/I/1494 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1893
1894 4,504 22 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1894/I/1388 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1894
1895 4,868 12 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1895/I/1586 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1895
1896 4,936 8 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1896/I/1624 RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1896
1897 5,053 34 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1897/II/1610 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1897
1898 5,883 15 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1898/I/1670 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1898
1899 6,595 26 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1899/I/1824 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1899
1900 7,066 40 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/1612 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1900
1901 Pages 30-35 missing RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1901
1902 10,911 49 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1902/I/1436 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1902
1903 11,005 42 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1903/I/1873 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1903
1904 12,926 75 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1904/I/1848 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1904
1905 12,816 101 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/3767 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1905
1906 13,507 149 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1906/II/1600 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1906
1907 14,953 112 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1907/I/2542 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1907
1908 16,033 106 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1908/I/2061 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1908
1909 17,086 112 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1909/II/1832 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1909
1910 18,504 115 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1910/I/2050 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1910
1911 20,325 142 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1911/I/2497 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1911
1912 25,667 119 8 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1912
1913 29,578 242 9 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/3693 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1913
1914 34,928 287 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1914/I/2031 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1914
1915 35,057 266 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1638 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1915
1916 36,170 279 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1053 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1916
1917 34,214 301 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1917/I/1123 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1917
1918 33,026 265 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1159 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1918
1919 33,510 306 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1919/I/1231 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1919
1920 37,080 323 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1920/I/1349 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1920
1921 44,162 339 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1921/I-II/1452 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1921
1922 43,255 465 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1922/I/1409 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1922
1923 39,428 272 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1321 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1923
1924 39,467 970 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1924/I/2458 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1924
1925 39,773 877 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1925/I/1804 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1925
1926 42,195 978 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1926/I/1930 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1926
1927 43,655 788 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1927/I/2230 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1927
1928 34,624 568 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2628 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1928
1929 22,923 379 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2090 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1929
1930 19,849 252 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2212 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1930
1931 22,822 277 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1778 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1931
1932 25,160 302 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1934 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1932
1933 37,652 289 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1388 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933
1934 44,401 242 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2278 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934
1935 50,132 193 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1326 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1935
1936 52,640 259 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1552 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1936
1937 54,282 229 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1896 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1937
1938 53,482 225 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1652 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1938
1939 50,563 219 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1970 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1939
1940 47,008 335 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1314 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940
1941 49,517 276 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1203 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941
1942 62,749 315 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/651 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942
1943 155,392 393 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/679 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1943
1944 150,522 279 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/895 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1944
1945 74,814 316 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/969 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1945
1946 73,727 280 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1548 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946
1947 45,303 411 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2495 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947
1948 42,719 577 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2521 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948
1949 40,548 713 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2104 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949
1950 43,402 475 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2366 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950
2011 1,052 passengers/weekday
2019 269,000 https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2019/09/11/2019-rail-station-boardings/

Pukekohe Racecourse

Franklin Racecourse station, to the south of Pukekohe, was open from about 1921 to 1955. From 1938 there was a siding at Pukekohe Racecourse and the formation was built up to rail level for about 750 ft (230 m), in place of a platform.

Chart of Pukekohe railway station ticket sales 1881-1950
Ticket sales 1881-1950 - derived from annual returns to Parliament of "Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended"

Services

In 1875 Pukekohe had two trains a day in each direction taking about 2 hours from Auckland. In 2019 journeys to Auckland took 1hr 11mins, running half hourly.

Since 2000, the country town of Pukekohe has been the southern terminus for the Southern Line. However suburban trains start or terminate at the former terminus at Papakura (18.2 km north of Pukekohe) because network electrification does not extend beyond Papakura. An hourly diesel train shuttle service has operated between Pukekohe and Papakura since July 2015, when EMU electric services were inaugurated for Southern Line services.

ADL class DMUs are utilized for the shuttle. The trains are stabled at Pukekohe station and Westfield depot overnight. In December 2014, the SX train (minus locomotives) and an ADK set (both decommissioned from service following the introduction of EMUs on the Auckland network) were relocated to Pukekohe for storage pending disposal. The stored trains were later relocated to Waitakere and Helensville, and then back to Westfield.

In December 2014, service frequency of the shuttle service was increased to hourly on all days, including weekend services for the first time.

Bus routes 391, 392, 393, 394, 396, 398 and 399 serve Pukekohe Station.

Upgrade

In 2011, the Auckland Council agreed to fund an upgrade to the station, along with the construction of a Park and ride facility. In 2014 Auckland Transport announced plans to upgrade Pukekohe station in two stages, with the first stage in 2015 to include a bus interchange and a Park and Ride. The upgrade also included replacement of the wooden sections of platform and a new footbridge and lifts.

Auckland Transport also added a proposal to extend railway electrification to Pukekohe to its 10-year plan.

Electrification of the rail line from Papakura to Pukekohe was announced in 2020; with the upgrade then planned to be completed by 2021 (see also New Zealand Upgrade Programme and Auckland railway electrification).

Electrification work is to commence in 2020 (with three new stations proposed on the route).

To provide space for stabling trains, Kiwirail plans to remove, or demolish the 1913 station by November 2021. A 2019 report said that relocating the station is impractical and could cost almost $2.7m. It has been described as, "one of Pukekohe’s more important heritage buildings".

Bus station

The $15.4 million upgrade, with a new park and ride area, improved bus station facilities and a pedestrian overbridge at the new integrated bus and train station, began construction in July 2017. The 6-bay bus station opened on 6 June 2018.

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