Wairarapa Train Timetables

[Wannabe_Train_Driver]

I have been finding Wairarapa mainly Masterton a bit more desirable than Welly but is there space for improvements on the timetable of the Wairarapa Train ?

[pickle]

I would hope so

[eurokiwi78]

I always thort an additional masty - welly service leaving masterton about 8am and an additional evening service departing welly about 1530 would be quite good but the only places they can really cross at present are south of trentham which would clash with coressponding services at present.

Extension of the double line from trentham to upper hutt and a platform on the loop at featherston would allow a lot more flexibility in timetabling. The switchlocked siding would have to be removed and alternative arrangements made on the rare occasions it is used (toast martinborough).

The siding at waingawa could be changed into a lever locked loop for late running time recovery with the replacement of
2 sets of hand operated points with secured padlock points to achieve this.

[pickle]

I would hope so

[Wannabe_Train_Driver]

If the Waingawa Sidings will be reused for log trains,will that pose a problem for the Wairarapa Connection?

[geoff_184]

Extension of the double line from trentham to upper hutt and a platform on the loop at featherston would allow a lot more flexibility in timetabling. The switchlocked siding would have to be removed and alternative arrangements made on the rare occasions it is used (toast martinborough).

Alternatively, move the loop further north, so trains can still cross, while both taking turns at using the platform.

Reinstalling Maymorn and/or Rimutaka loop would also help. Maymorn is going to get at least one mainline turnout at some stage anyway.

[matthew25187]

Alternatively, move the loop further north, so trains can still cross, while both taking turns at using the platform.

There is plenty of room at Woodside for loops and platforms (hardly surprising since it used to be the junction with the Greytown Branch), but ONTRACK have declared that land to be surplus to railway requirements and are looking to sell it.

Reinstalling Maymorn and/or Rimutaka loop would also help. Maymorn is going to get at least one mainline turnout at some stage anyway.

You mean a mainline connection to the Rimutaka Incline Railway project at Maymorn? That is many years off at least, surely.

[eurokiwi78]

Maymorn would be a good place for a loop as trains have to stop there to complete passenger work anyway.

I guess it comes down to the sort of schedule they envisage running and the cheapest way to achieve it.

[geoff_184]

I guess it comes down to the sort of schedule they envisage running and the cheapest way to achieve it.

Well as long as the trains themselves continue to have locomotives on the front that require turning and shunting at each end of the journey, as the RMTU Wellington branch will kick up a stink over any plans to eliminate such things in the name of faster turnaround times

[eurokiwi78]

The branch is against driving van trailers (sd cabs) as there are a number of unprotected obscure angle level crossings.

As for speeding up the turn arounds there are a couple of things that would help,

Allowing/encouraging the train managers to do the loco turning (a higher pay rate as per the cec)

An additional locomotive north facing waiting by 'a box' to run the next northbound service.

From my experience the current schedule would benefit at weekends and with the evening turnaround of 1609-1610.

[muzza]

Reinstalling Maymorn and/or Rimutaka loop would also help. Maymorn is going to get at least one mainline turnout at some stage anyway.

You mean a mainline connection to the Rimutaka Incline Railway project at Maymorn? That is many years off at least, surely.

Yeah, there's "in principle" agreement on that mainline turnout at Maymorn, which ideally would be placed to service future loop - so that the RIRHT turnout would effectively come off the loop.

[Wannabe_Train_Driver]

How long will it take the Rimutaka Incline to be rebuilt?

[matthew25187]

How long will it take the Rimutaka Incline to be rebuilt?

Depends, do you mean when will the project be "finished" (at least to Summit?) or how long from start to finish will it take to complete plate-laying? The simple answer is: years. Also, bear in mind that there are numerous pre-requisites that need to be sorted prior to any work commencing on the original railway formation including (but not necessarily limited to and in no particular order):
* Completing the rail vehicle shed (expected to be done this year)
* Construction of station building and platform
* Plate-laying in Maymorn yard
* Securing access from Maymorn yard to original railway formation (discussions have already been held with neighbours on at least one connection option but the terms were not acceptable)
* Securing a detour at Kaitoke to bypass private land on the former station yard there
* Create a new track to provide alternative access for existing recreational users of the railway formation
* Acquisition or restoration of motive power (needed to haul work trains for plate-laying)
* Acquisition of raw materials for plate-laying (rails and sleepers or track-sets, ballast, etc.)
* Securing access to the original railway formation owned by GWRC and DOC (including legal issues such as resource consents, etc.)

I don't know if the Trust has thought ahead as far as plate-laying the original railway formation (probably not) and to what extent they would rely on volunteer labour (as they currently do where-ever possible) or where they could employ commercial services (funds permitting). Obviously, if they rely on volunteer labour that is going to greatly increase the length of time required to complete the plate-laying.

[Wannabe_Train_Driver]

For what I know for motive power,the Rimutaka Rail Trust has recently acquired WB292 and WB299

[geoff_184]

The two locos that Hugh salvaged from the West Coast? RIR is to a large degree his project, so if they are going to end up being used there, they will still be with him as always.

[Wannabe_Train_Driver]

Yep,didn't WB292 and WB299 serve part of their work at Rimutaka?

[geoff_184]

Extra carriages proposed

By Colin Williscroft, colin.williscroft@age.co.nz | Saturday, March 17, 2012 6:00


CROWDED CARS: Passengers leave the train at Masterton station.

Rail commuters have welcomed a proposal to ease crowding on the Wairarapa line by adding more carriages.

The project has yet to be approved, but Greater Wellington's draft land transport programme for the next three years includes $500,000 to convert carriages for extra capacity on the Wairarapa line.

Masterton District Councillor Lyn Patterson said that showed the regional council had listened to complaints about overcrowding on commuter trains on the Wairarapa line, and were going to do something about it.

"I think it's brilliant," she said.

"We've just got to get on with things and wait for that to happen."

Wayne Hastie, Greater Wellington regional council's general manager of public transport, said the council was aware there were problems with capacity on some Wairarapa services, which was confirmed through a recent review of public transport services in Wairarapa.

The review was just about complete for bus services but the options for changes to train services were still being worked through, Mr Hastie said.

They would involve possibly introducing some extra weekend services and increasing the capacity on some Wairarapa services, he said.

"One option we are exploring for increasing capacity is to convert some carriages, formerly used on the Upper Hutt line, for use on the Wairarapa line."

He said the carriages' conversion would include the cost of installing toilets in them.

"We are still working through the full implications of the project and need to confirm costs."

Mr Hastie said the project was still subject to funding approval from both Greater Wellington and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

However, if approved, he hoped that work could begin in the next financial year.

Commuter John McDowall, who has caught the train between Featherston and Wellington for five years, said the plan was good news.

"On the 4.30 train [to Wairarapa] some people are standing right from Wellington, and there is a lot standing from the Hutt."

Des O'Dwyer, also a regular commuter, said he avoided most of the rush by boarding early, but recognised the need to ease crowding.

"Any improvement is welcome," he said.

"Sometimes I see the crowding before the train leaves the station. Upper Hutt is especially bad.

"An ease definitely would be welcome, especially since ticket prices just took a rise and yet there's been no improvement to anything on the line.

"They need to put the money where their mouth is."

[scooter]

Wonder why they haven't plugged in at least a couple of the SE's already, unless there is a compatability issue between them and the SW's

[duddley]

Sounds like good news!

[kaiwhara]

Correct, there are at the moment.

Wonder why they haven't plugged in at least a couple of the SE's already, unless there is a compatability issue between them and the SW's