Waikanae railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waikanae
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| Metlink suburban rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Pehi Kupa Street, Waikanae, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°52′36″S 175°03′58″E / 40.87667°S 175.06611°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 31 m (102 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Greater Wellington Regional Council | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 55.43 km (34.44 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | Single | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | Mainline (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 2 August 1886 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | 20 February 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Waikanae railway station is located in Waikanae, a town on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand. It is the very last stop, or terminal station, on the Kapiti Line. This line is used by Metlink's electric commuter trains. These trains carry people to and from Wellington. The railway line itself is part of the larger North Island Main Trunk line, which connects Wellington all the way to Auckland.
What Trains Use Waikanae Station?
Waikanae is the final stop for Kapiti Line commuter trains. These trains are run by Transdev Wellington under the Metlink brand. They travel between Wellington and Waikanae, with some stopping at Porirua. The trains used are modern electric units called Matangi trains.
Two other types of trains also pass through Waikanae station. These are the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer. The Capital Connection is a diesel-hauled train that does stop at Waikanae. However, the Northern Explorer, which is a long-distance train, just passes through without stopping.
How Long Do Journeys Take?
A train trip from Waikanae to Porirua takes about 39 minutes. To reach Wellington, it takes about one hour if the train stops at every station. If you catch an express train that skips some stops between Porirua and Wellington, the journey to Wellington is about 57 minutes.
How Often Do Trains Run?
Trains run quite often! During the day, outside of busy rush hours, trains come every 20 minutes. They run even more frequently during peak times when many people are travelling to work or school. At night, they run a bit less often. Before July 2018, trains ran every 30 minutes during off-peak times, but this was changed to every 20 minutes to make travel easier.
Bus Connections at Waikanae
Several Metlink bus routes connect with Waikanae station. These include:
- Route 280: Goes to Waikanae Beach.
- Route 290: Goes to Ōtaki Beach.
- Route 285: A special Kapiti Commuter service that travels to Wellington.
History of Waikanae Station
The Waikanae station first opened in 1886. It was part of the Wellington-Manawatu Line, which was built by a company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). This line carried both passengers and goods.
The last part of the railway line was finished on 3 November 1886, near Otaihanga. The very first train to travel all the way from Wellington to Palmerston North ran on 30 November 1886. Waikanae was listed as a flag station in the December 1886 timetable. This meant trains would only stop if someone waved a flag to get on, or if a passenger on the train asked to get off there. Since 1908, this railway has been part of the main North Island Main Trunk line.
Station Improvements Over Time
Over the years, the station has been improved many times:
- In 1895, a shed for goods was built. It was rebuilt in 1979.
- The train platform was made longer in 1897.
- By 1911, the station had a shelter, a platform, a goods shed, and areas for loading goods and animals.
- A special system called a tablet was used from 1908 to help control train movements safely.
- In 1929, a waiting room for women was added. Electric lights were also installed around this time, replacing oil lamps.
- New station buildings were constructed in 1968.
- The areas for loading animals were removed in 1965.
- The station stopped handling goods traffic on 3 May 1986.
When Did Electric Trains Arrive?
The electric commuter train service from Wellington was extended from Paraparaumu to Waikanae on 20 February 2011. This was a big event! A special ceremony was held on 19 February at Waikanae to celebrate the new service. Important people like the Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, and local MP, Nathan Guy, were there. Nathan Guy's great-grandfather had even been in charge of the railway company when the line was first built in 1886.
The stations at Paraparaumu and Waikanae were upgraded for more than $1 million each between 2010 and 2011 to prepare for the electric trains.
The Waikanae River Bridge
About one kilometre south of the station, the main railway line crosses the Waikanae River. The first bridge here was made of timber. In 1925, old railway rails were used to build a fence to protect the bridge. By 1938, the bridge had been rebuilt using stronger steel and concrete.
Images for kids
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Waikanae station in 1949
