There is hope for a better train service for us with this week's announcement — Government green lights Lower North Island Rail:
A fleet of 18 brand new trains for Wairarapa and Kapiti Coast:
- Increase capacity by approximately 1.5 million trips
- Time savings of up to 15 minutes on the Manawatū line
- Reduce over half a million tonnes of emissions
- Build resilience into the network
The new trains will operate using a combination of electricity wires, batteries and fuel, lowering our carbon emissions and making New Zealand less reliant on volatile international energy markets
RadioNZ added info in their item New fleet of trains for Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa:
The hybrid electric trains are to replace the current fleet of trains from the 1970s, and upgrades would also be made to the network.
[Transport minister Minister Michael Wood] said the trains would be bought in the coming months, with the goal to have them in use as fast as possible.
Update, 01 May 2023 via Funding for Capital Connection a big win for communities in the region, Horizons chair Rachel Keedwell says:
The Manawatū line services will double during peak times and provide two off-peak trips, totalling four return trips a day, and will include weekend services. We know our communities will be really excited by this prospect and will want to know a lot of detail we can’t provide yet.
