Matangi news
A Matangi train welcomes its first passengers at Paraparaumu.
Welcome to Matangi News, an update on the arrival and commissioning of Greater Wellington Regional Council’s new trains. The new trains will be operated and maintained by KiwiRail.
There’s a lot of interest in the arrival of the new trains – they are a much welcomed and anticipated improvement to the region’s rail network.
This update keeps you in touch with progress with our new trains.
28 November 2011
More Matangi services on Hutt and Kapiti Lines
- The number of Matangi peak hour services on the Hutt and Kapiti Lines has doubled from 14 daily return trips to more than 30 return trips.
- From today, the Hutt Line will have Matangi running on seven morning peak return services and seven evening return services.
- Kapiti Line will have eight evening peak services and four morning peak services run by Matangi
Matangi progress to date…
- Twenty-five two-car units, more than half the entire fleet are now in Wellington.
- Twenty units are commissioned for service - running on the Hutt Valley line and the Kapiti Line.
- Two of the commissioned units are being used for KiwiRail staff training, and the remaining five units are still being commissioned.
- Six more cars are on their way to Wellington.
- The new trains will begin running on the Johnsonville Line in March 2012.
- All the new trains are expected to be in Wellington mid-2012.
24 August 2011
Matangi begin running on Kapiti Line
- The new trains are now in passenger service on the Kapiti Line. The first morning peak hour service ran on Wednesday 24 August.
- From Monday 29 August, as well as a morning peak Matangi service, Matangi will run four off-peak services around the middle of the day from Monday to Friday.
- Matangi will run more services on the Kapiti Line as more of the new trains arrive in Wellington and complete the necessary testing.
Matangi progress to date…
- Thirty-six cars (18 two-car units) have arrived in Wellington.
- Twenty-six cars (13 two-car units) are commissioned for service - running on the Hutt Valley line and the Kapiti Line.
- Two of the commissioned units are being used for KiwiRail staff training, and the remaining five units are still being commissioned.
- Six more cars are due in Wellington at the end of August.
- The new trains will begin running on the Johnsonville Line early next year.
- All the new trains are expected to be in Wellington mid-2012.
Background information…
The Matangi (a Maori word meaning ‘breeze’ or ‘wind’) is a fleet of 48 two-car electric trains being built in Korea for Greater Wellington Regional Council.
- Features of the new Matangi include: Modern, stainless steel exterior
- Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned interior
- The trailer car (each unit is made up of a motor car and a trailer car) has a low-floor multi-functional area designed for passengers in wheelchairs or mobile scooters, buggies and bicycles
- Sealed windows - which makes the inside of the train quieter and helps keep air conditioning temperatures consistent
- Manually operated doors
- Open movement, i.e. no doors, between the cars of each two-car unit
- High quality public address system
- Automated visual and audio 'next station' information system
- CCTV
13 July 2011
Another two Matangi cars are now in passenger service, bringing the total number in service to 12. Three two-car units are now delivering peak hour services on the Hutt Line.
28 June 2011
Three new Matangi units (six cars) arrived in Wellington today.
Fourteen cars (seven two-car units) are ready for service; 10 (five two-car units) are taking passengers regularly on the Hutt Line, four cars (two two-car units) are in training and the rest are still being commissioned. Four more cars (two two-car units) are expected to begin regular passenger service within the next week or two. Another six cars (three two-car units) will be on the way to Wellington in early July.
26 May 2011
We’re very excited today – as we write this update four two car sets are being taken off the ship and loaded onto the wharf. This means we now have a quarter of the new fleet here in Wellington!
Of the 12 two car sets here, six are now available for service. You’ll see a six car set (3 trains) running on the Hutt Valley line. Other shorter trains you see on the tracks may be undergoing testing, commissioning or being used for driver/crew training.
We had plans to take some Matangi trains off the Hutt Valley line and introduce them on the Johnsonville line in June, but the greater need for capacity and reliability on the Hutt Valley and Kapiti lines has meant that we’ve unfortunately had to push this back. This means you’ll see the Matangi trains on the Johnsonville line later in the year.
Feedback from commuters who have travelled on the new trains has been very positive. People have told us they enjoy the quiet, comfortable ride, the air-conditioning and the spacious feel of the Matangi trains. They also enjoy being able to see and walk the length of the train and the fact that they have access to the next stop information easily.
25 March 2011
The 9.05am Upper Hutt to Wellington trip today marked the start of regular service for the first Matangi train.
After an extensive commissioning regime, the train has been given the green light.
For the next week it will morning non-peak return services to Upper Hutt, and then the 2.17pm from Wellington to Melling and return.
7 March 2011
Eight two-car Matangi units are now in Wellington. Two units are due to start running on the Upper Hutt Line later this month.
A policy for the carriage of cycles on the new trains is being finalised and will be considered by Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee in mid-March.
Multi unit (four-car) testing is under way on the Upper Hutt Line.
19 February 2011
A four-car Matangi was on show at the opening of Waikanae Station today.
27 January 2011
Three more new Matangi units (six cars) have arrived in Wellington.
A four-car Matangi is due to start running on the Upper Hutt line in late February.
More details will be available here early next week.
11 January 2011
The Christmas & New Year period has been a busy one for the Matangi project team!
On Thursday 23 December the first new Matangi unit made its inaugural trip carrying paying passengers. It made two return trips to Upper Hutt from Wellington.
It was a gloriously sunny day and the trips went very well. Passengers commented on the quietness of the train, the great views from the bigger windows and the comfort of the seats.
The train is now back at its depot base, as preparations for multiple unit testing, i.e. joining four and six cars together, get under way.
Just after Christmas, two more new units arrived, making a total of five in Wellington.
Three more units are on their way from South Korea. All the remaining 40 units (eighty cars) are in production.
Previous Matangi News updates are available here.
Background information…
The Matangi (a Maori word meaning ‘breeze’ or ‘wind’) is a fleet of 48 two-car electric trains being built in Korea for Greater Wellington Regional Council.
The trains need to be put through a rigorous testing programme on the entire rail network before they begin service. Engineers and other experts from Hyundai Rotem Mitsui, the manufacturers of the Matangi, KiwiRail and key sub suppliers are in Wellington to commission, troubleshoot and fine tune the trains many systems to suit the Wellington network.
New features
Features of the new Matangi trains include a modern, stainless steel body; a low floor multi-function area in one car of each two-car unit for passengers with wheelchairs, buggies and bicycles; air-conditioned cooling and heating; doors operating on demand; open movement between a two-car unit; hearing loops in all cars; a public address system; and information systems with automated visual and audio next station information.
You can find out more about the new trains on our questions and answers page.