Greater Wellington’s first new Matangi commuter train arrived at Wellington Railway Station on Saturday morning. The train was en route to the depot at Kaiwharawhara for testing.
Over the next few months it will be able to be seen along the Hutt Valley and Kāpiti lines. It is expected to begin revenue service by December.
The train is the first of 48 being built by Hyundai Rotem Mitsui for Metlink, Greater Wellington Regional Council’s public transport network.
The Matangi trains have a modern, stainless steel exterior. Inside, they are air-conditioned, spacious, and are equipped with high quality passenger information systems. The trailer car of each two-car unit has a low floor area designed especially to give greater access to people in wheelchairs and passengers with buggies.
Kāpiti’s regional councillor Nigel Wilson welcomed the arrival of the trains which are a key part of a $500m-plus package of improvements to Wellington’s regional rail network.