Western Hutt railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Western Hutt
Metlink suburban rail
Location	Hutt Road, Alicetown, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°12′43.22″S 174°53′23.48″E / 41.2120056°S 174.8898556°E / -41.2120056; 174.8898556
Owned by	Building is privately owned as a pub, platform owned by KiwiRail
Line(s)	Melling Branch
Platforms	Island (formerly)
Tracks	1
Construction
Platform levels	1
Other information
Fare zone	4
History
Opened	14 April 1874
Rebuilt	1892, 1906
Electrified	1 March 1954
Previous names	Lower Hutt
Services
Preceding station   Transdev Wellington   Following station Melling Terminus Melling Line Petone toward Wellington
Heritage New Zealand – Category I
Designated:	25-Sep-1986
Reference #:	1327

The Western Hutt railway station is a train stop in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It used to be called Lower Hutt station. This station is on the single-track Melling Line. Metlink trains, which are electric trains, stop here. These trains are run by a company called Tranz Metro.

Station History

Early Days of the Station

The first train line from Wellington to the Hutt area opened on 14 April 1874. This was when the Lower Hutt Station first started.

In 1892, a new station building was built. It had special waiting rooms for ladies and a general waiting room for everyone else.

Big Changes and New Buildings

A much bigger station building opened in 1906. This building was designed by a famous architect named George Troup.

An old D Class steam train at Lower Hutt station in 1906.

In 1905, the train line from Lower Hutt to Petone got a second track. This made it a "double track" line. The double track all the way to Wellington was finished in 1911. However, the second track from Lower Hutt was removed by 1958.

How the Line Changed

The Western Hutt station used to be part of a longer train line. This line went through the Hutt Valley. But on 1 March 1954, a section of the line closed. The main train route to Upper Hutt changed. The shorter line to Melling, which includes Western Hutt station, then got electric trains.

Goods and Modern Use

For many years, the station was important for moving goods. Special "manure trains" even brought horse manure from Wellington streets! But in 1981, the station stopped handling freight. All goods were moved to a new place called Gracefield.

Today, the old station building is used for shops and businesses. It is now known as The Station Village Complex.

Train and Bus Services

How to Get Around

The Western Hutt station is served by Metlink trains on the Melling Line.

You can also catch Metlink buses from near the station. Here is one of the bus routes: