HAM-AKL business case is out!!!

[john-ston]

Costing trains would be redundant, as services could be largely comprised of existing rolling stock.

No it wouldn't be, you would need rolling stock different to the Ganz Mavag and Rotem Mitsui units due to the long distance involved. Currently, the off-peak run takes 1 hour 35 minutes, with the worst peak service taking 1 hour 44 minutes. Assuming that electrification allows the timetable to be sped up by 10-15%, that would cut the journey down to a best case 85 minutes and a worst case 95 minutes. Assuming that you wished to run a thirty minute off-peak and fifteen minute peak timetable, you would need fourteen trains to run the peak timetable, with a further two spares - a total of sixteen. Assuming that we get the best stuff out there (EDI Bombardier Units), that would cost us about $160 million in rolling stock and that is assuming we run three-car sets; we would probably want six-car at a minimum.

Remember that to fit this timetable through the Hutt Valley, you would need to triplicate from Upper Hutt to Taita, and quadruplicate from Taita to Petone. Add those costs, and things aren't looking cheap at all.

IMHO, we should first of all focus on improving the facilities offered either side of the Rimutaka Tunnel - a 20 minute frequency should be possible even if the Rimutaka Tunnel remains single track, and this is on the assumption that no freight trains run during peak hour. Of course, even that sort of frequency would require some level of amplification within the Wellington Region.

Why would you want to duplicate the Rimutaka Tunnel? Don't forget that there used to be passing loops at both ends of that tunnel that were removed years ago (presumably because they were no longer used).

They were no longer used because the rolling stock profile was no longer suited for them. When Maymorn Station was constructed, it was designed for a three car English Electric and the sort of rolling stock that we had in the 1950s (remember, it was planned that Masterton would get electrified at the time).

Also, even if the road was improved, I doubt it would have a negative impact on rail services to the Wairarapa.

Finally, could someone split these posts off from this thread please.

[matthew25187]

Costing trains would be redundant, as services could be largely comprised of existing rolling stock.

No it wouldn't be, you would need rolling stock different to the Ganz Mavag and Rotem Mitsui units due to the long distance involved. Currently, the off-peak run takes 1 hour 35 minutes, with the worst peak service taking 1 hour 44 minutes. Assuming that electrification allows the timetable to be sped up by 10-15%, that would cut the journey down to a best case 85 minutes and a worst case 95 minutes. Assuming that you wished to run a thirty minute off-peak and fifteen minute peak timetable, you would need fourteen trains to run the peak timetable, with a further two spares - a total of sixteen. Assuming that we get the best stuff out there (EDI Bombardier Units), that would cost us about $160 million in rolling stock and that is assuming we run three-car sets; we would probably want six-car at a minimum.

What I meant was, it should be possible to run a less intensive service initially with just the existing SW-class carriages and some electric locomotives. Additional or more appropriate rolling stock acquisitions could then be made at a later time.

Remember that to fit this timetable through the Hutt Valley, you would need to triplicate from Upper Hutt to Taita, and quadruplicate from Taita to Petone. Add those costs, and things aren't looking cheap at all.

Why not just extend the Melling Branch north and reconnect it to the Wairarapa Line at Haywards/Manor Park as it was originally? It could then be used as an express Wairarapa/freight bypass.

[geoff_184]

Even here in New Zealand, don't forget about the Capital Connection which is less than twenty years old and had no real predecesor.

The Capital Connection previously ran as the "Fields Express", train's 1515 and 1516 IIRC. Was cancelled in the late 70's or early 80's. Then they had the Palmy-Wellington job via the Wairarapa until 1988, then the current CC started three years later in 1991. Today, after some 18 years of operation, the CC departs Palmy with two of the eight carriages in use. The train is mostly supported by commuters further south, especially from Waikanae. KiwiRail have plans to reduce the size of the Capital Connection after the Waikanae electrification comes into use. I have heard four cars mentioned as a possibility.

[eurokiwi78]

Freight Trains are hardly likely to be an issue in the Y Rapa now. They run largely outside of the Units anyway except for the Hutt Shops/Eurocell sidings shunts.

[john-ston]

The Capital Connection previously ran as the "Fields Express", train's 1515 and 1516 IIRC. Was cancelled in the late 70's or early 80's. Then they had the Palmy-Wellington job via the Wairarapa until 1988, then the current CC started three years later in 1991. Today, after some 18 years of operation, the CC departs Palmy with two of the eight carriages in use. The train is mostly supported by commuters further south, especially from Waikanae. KiwiRail have plans to reduce the size of the Capital Connection after the Waikanae electrification comes into use. I have heard four cars mentioned as a possibility.

Still, two carriages being supported by Palmerston North commuters is a significant improvement on two carriages being supported by all the commuters from north of Paraparaumu as it was in the early 1990s, and it is also a significant improvement on the two dozen passengers that the Palmerston North to Masterton section of old Palmerston North to Wellington via Masterton had when the service was closed in 1988.

BTW, do you have a source on the "Fields Express"? It would be useful to add to the Wikipedia article on the Capital Connection.

[eurokiwi78]

There is a book by GB Churchman I think called Railways of New Zealand or New Zealand Railways, Think that has some info on the Fields Expresses. Thick green book, A4 size.