Four passenger services will operate each day between Auckland and Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island after the NZ Transport Agency approved a $92.4 million funding package.
The funding – $79.8 million from the Transport Agency and $12.6 million from local authorities – will pay for necessary construction and operation of the service, expected to roll midway through 2020.
The service will initially us a four-carriage train to carry up to 150 passengers, with two services each day in either direction.
The train will leave Frankton in Hamilton, stop at The Base in Rotokauri, then Huntly, before finishing its journey at Papakura in Auckland, where passengers can change onto the city’s public transport network. Future stops may include Te Kauwhata, Pokeno and Tuakau.
“We know more and more people are commuting between Hamilton and Auckland, and this service will give them a real choice between being stuck in traffic or relaxing on the train,” transport minister Phil Twyford said.
“An important part of our transport policy is giving people options so they don’t always have to take their car, freeing up the roads for those that have to drive.”
Twyford said the Transport Agency was looking to further entice commuters onto the train by enabling it with Wi-Fi for passengers.
There were 241,000 people living in Hamilton as of a 2018 government survey.