Previous updates
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 early in 2012.
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.
28 October 2010
Over the last two weeks...
A four-car Matangi train
- Loaded testing, i.e. performing traction and braking tests with 28 tonnes of weights on board to simulate passenger loading, continued on the first Matangi unit. This has included a series of successful tests on the Johnsonville Line which has the steepest grades and tightest tunnels. Testing on all lines continues.
- The third new unit arrived in Wellington on Labour Day, 25 October.
- The new trains have now run on most of the Wellington metropolitan network.
Coming up in the next week or two…
- The commissioning team should start working on the new trains in the brand new extension of the Thorndon rail depot
- The third train will undergo static testing, i.e. when the train is not moving.
A shiny new depot for shiny new trains - Powered static testing of the second train will continue this week.
- The second train will go for test runs on the main rail lines next week.
- Training will continue for onboard and maintenance staff.
- Traction and braking tests, in the simulated loading state, will continue.
Delivery & production progress…
- Eighty cars are currently in production.
12 October 2010
Over the last two weeks...
- The first new train ran up the Johnsonville Line under its own power.
- Testing to ensure the train clears all tunnels, structures and platforms between Wellington and Upper Hutt, Melling, Porirua and Johnsonville has been completed successfully.
- High speed testing has been carried out between Porirua and Paremata.
- Twenty-eight tonnes of weights were placed in the train to simulate it running with a reasonably full passenger load.
Coming up in the next week or two…
- Testing of clearances against station platforms and structures will be carried out on the Johnsonville and North Island Main Trunk Line (from Paremata to Paraparaumu).
- The new trains will move into the new part of the rail depot building at Thorndon.
- Training will begin for onboard and maintenance staff.
Delivery & production progress…
- Eighty cars are currently in production.
- The third train is on its way to New Zealand and is due to arrive in Wellington at the end of October.
27 September 2010
Over the last week or so…
- The second new train arrived in Wellington early last Sunday (26 September). It is now at the Thorndon depot, about to begin a programme of static (electrical) testing, mainline testing and support staff training in the coming weeks.
- A software configuration issue caused an electrical problem on a test run on the Upper Hutt Line on 17 September. The problem is being investigated and we’re confident it will be resolved soon. In the meantime testing has continued.
- To date most issues uncovered by the testing have been resolved by making changes to the software as the train’s various systems are fine-tuned to suit the conditions of the Wellington network.
- The first Matangi train was given a day off testing recently to be the star attraction at the Conference of Railway Engineering (CORE 2010). This was the first time the conference has been held in NZ and we were very pleased that the Matangi was able to be put on display. We were also pleased that even Australian engineers were impressed with the range of features and the quality of the finish.
- The final inspection regime on the second train (conducted in South Korea) was a smoother process, with less final work to do before shipping than with the first train. This is expected to improve further with subsequent trains.
- The first train has run to all stations between Wellington and Melling, Upper Hutt and Porirua. There were no obstructions with platforms and structures at any of the stations.
- The first train is currently being tested for propulsion and braking to 90 kph.
Coming up in the next week or two…
- On board systems, such as CCTV and passenger information displays, will be tested.
- Testing of clearances against station platforms and structures will be carried out on the Johnsonville and North Island Main Trunk Line (from Paremata to Paraparaumu).
- The new trains will move into the new part of the rail depot building at Thorndon.
- Training will begin for onboard and maintenance staff.
Delivery & production progress…
- The next new trains are due to arrive in Wellington at the end of October.
- Seventy cars are currently in production.