Rotokauri railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rotokauri Transport Hub
Regional Rail, Bus
View from overbridge looking south
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	37°44′45″S 175°13′36″E / 37.745950°S 175.226539°E / -37.745950; 175.226539
Elevation	33 m (108 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 547.83 km (340.41 mi)
Tracks	2 (doubled from 30 June 1929)
Construction
Parking	yes
Other information
Status	Currently open
Website	Te Huia - Rotokauri
History
Opened	19 December 1877 original 2021
Closed	10 January 1971
Rebuilt	2018–2021
Previous names	Te Rapa Railway Station
Services
Preceding station   KiwiRail   Following station Huntly toward Papakura Te Huia Hamilton (Frankton) Terminus Historical railways Horotiu Line open, station closed 5.71 km (3.55 mi)   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Te Rapa Racecourse Line open, station closed 4.4 km (2.7 mi)

The Rotokauri railway station, also known as The Hub, is a major transport spot in north Hamilton, New Zealand. It's a place where you can catch trains and buses, and it also has a park and ride area. This means you can park your car and then use public transport.

The station is located on the North Island Main Trunk, which is a very important railway line. The original station here was a 'flag station' and closed in 1971. But a brand new, modern transport hub opened in 2021. It's now a key stop for the Te Huia train service, which connects Hamilton with Papakura (near Auckland). The Te Huia train services started on April 6, 2021.

The original Te Rapa station was near what is now Tasman Road and Te Kowhai Road East. The new station is a bit further south.

History of the Station

The Original Te Rapa Station

The first railway station in this area was called Te Rapa railway station. It opened on December 19, 1877. Back then, it was a 'flag station'. This meant trains would only stop if a passenger waved a flag to get on, or if someone on the train asked to get off.

The station was about 3 miles (5 km) south of Horotiu and 3 miles (5 km) north of Hamilton. In 1878, an extra track was added for trains to pass each other. By 1884, it had a platform, a shelter, and a place to load goods onto trains.

Over the years, the station got more advanced. In 1916, it received special signals to help control train movements. In 1929, the railway line here became a double track, meaning two trains could travel in opposite directions at the same time. During World War II, extra tracks were built to reach the nearby Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) storage base.

However, by July 1965, very few people were using the station. In fact, for nine months, no one had bought a passenger ticket! So, in September, the railway decided to remove the station building and platform. The original Te Rapa station officially closed on January 10, 1971.

The New Rotokauri Transport Hub

Plans for a new, modern transport hub in north Hamilton started around 2007. The idea was to create a central place where trains and buses could connect easily, making it simpler for people to travel.

In 2017, land was bought for the new hub. In 2018, money was set aside to build it. By November 2018, the estimated cost for the new station, park and ride, and bus area was about $21 million. The goal was to connect with a new passenger train service between Hamilton and Auckland.

In 2019, the New Zealand Government announced funding for this new train service, which was later named Te Huia. This funding also included building the Rotokauri Transport Hub. The original plan was for the hub to open in March 2020. However, due to some delays, including issues with getting lifts installed from overseas, the opening was pushed back.

On January 29, 2020, a special blessing ceremony was held at the hub before it opened. The signs around the hub use both English and Māori names. The new station has two platforms for trains, three lifts, and three sets of stairs. A special bridge connects the bus terminal, the train platforms, and The Base shopping mall. The Hamilton City Council has even bought extra land nearby, just in case they need to expand the car park or build something else in the future.

Services Available

As mentioned, the original Te Rapa railway station was a 'flag station'. This meant trains would only stop if passengers signaled to the train staff that they wanted to get on or off.

Today, the Rotokauri Transport Hub is a busy place with regular services.

Train Services

The main passenger train service at Rotokauri is the Te Huia train. This train connects Hamilton to Auckland. You change trains at Papakura to continue your journey to Auckland.

Te Huia trains run four times a day on weekdays (two trains going each way). On some Saturdays, there's one train each way. These services began on April 6, 2021. This was the first time passenger trains had stopped at this location since the original station closed in 1971. Even though the Northern Explorer train passes through on the same railway line, it does not stop at Rotokauri.

Bus Services

The Rotokauri Transport Hub is also a very important stop for many of Hamilton and Waikato's bus routes. When it first opened, there were about 180 bus movements (buses arriving or leaving) each day. It's planned that this number will increase to 400 bus movements daily in the future, making it an even busier bus hub.