Te Kauwhata railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Te Kauwhata railway station
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Wairangi Railway Station about 1900
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| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°24′18″S 175°08′31″E / 37.40504°S 175.141897°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 591.52 km (367.55 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 13 August 1877 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 24 November 1985 | ||||||||||
| Previous names | Wairangi to Waerenga in 1897 Wairangi to 28 May 1911 |
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| Traffic | |||||||||||
| Passengers (1944) | 16,112 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The Te Kauwhata railway station was once a small train stop on the main North Island Main Trunk railway line in Waikato District, New Zealand. It was about 54 mi (87 km) south of Auckland. The station was also 591.52 km (367.55 mi) north of Wellington. It stood 12 m (39 ft) above sea level.
The station's name changed a few times. It was first called Wairangi. In 1897, its name became Waerenga. Finally, on May 28, 1911, it was renamed Te Kauwhata. At first, the station mainly served a special government farm. But after 1912, the town of Te Kauwhata began to grow around it.
Contents
The Station's Early Days
The Te Kauwhata station officially opened on August 13, 1877. In those early days, trains moved quite slowly. It took about 4 hours and 15 minutes to travel to Auckland. This was because trains only went about 13 mph (21 km/h).
When it first opened, the station had a platform for people to get on and off trains. It also had a small shelter and a special track, called a siding. This siding could hold up to 61 train wagons.
Growing the Station
Over the years, more buildings and features were added to the station.
- In 1879, more station buildings were put up.
- A cattle yard and a loading platform for goods were added in 1886.
- A shed for storing goods was moved from Otorohanga in 1894.
- In 1913, the old Pukekohe building was moved here. It became a waiting room just for ladies.
- A new goods shed was built in 1924.
- By 1925, a completely new station building was ready.
- By 1932, the station even had its own station master, who was in charge of everything.
Track Upgrades and Challenges
Plans to add a second track to the railway line were approved in 1914. This was meant to help trains move more easily and prevent delays. However, the work was put on hold because of World War I. The second track from Ohinewai to Te Kauwhata finally opened much later, on December 14, 1958. The railway line north of Te Kauwhata still only has one track.
The station also saw some accidents. In 1911, an express train went off the tracks because some points (switches that guide trains) were unlocked. In 1930, three goods trains crashed at the station. Sadly, a worker who helped move train cars, called a shunter, was killed in 1931.
Passenger numbers at Te Kauwhata station reached their highest point in 1944.
Future of the Station
There have been talks about reopening the Te Kauwhata station. A report in 2018 suggested it could reopen around 2023. The report noted that Te Kauwhata was one of the easiest stations to get ready again. The main job would be to make the platform higher.
The first Te Huia train service, which started in August 2020, does not stop at Te Kauwhata. In 2020, the idea of reopening the platform was suggested as a way to help the economy recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. This project was estimated to cost about $10 million.
