North Island Main Trunk

North Iceland Main Trunk Line ( NIMT ) or North Iceland Main Trunk Railway ( German: North Island Main Line ) is the name for the railway line that connects to the North Island of New Zealand, the two major cities of Auckland and Wellington. The route is 680 km long and run in the common case of the railway in New Zealand track gauge of 1067 mm (3 feet 6 inches ). The North Iceland Main Trunk Line was started in 1997 by the American Society of Civil Engineers in the List of International Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.

  • 3.1 Auckland
  • 3.2 Wellington

History

Construction of the line

Section Auckland - Te Awamutu

The first railway line was built to the south of Auckland, was the 13 km line from Point Britomart after Onehunga, which was opened in 1873. From Penrose south to Mercer the route on 20 May 1875 has been extended until Ngaruawahia on August 13, 1877 to Frankton in December 1877, and over Hamilton to Te Awamutu in 1880, which has a length of 160 km was achieved. Due to economic recession and lengthy negotiations with Maori, the construction stopped and then Te Awamutu remained a terminus for several years. In 1880 Hamilton began the construction of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway toward the Bay of Plenty.

Section Wellington - Long Burn

The section Wellington - Long Burn ( in Palmerston North ) was 1881-1886 by a private company, the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company built. This company was taken over by the New Zealand Railways Department in 1908, which then completed the central portion of the route.

Central portion of the North Island

The construction of the central section began on 15 April 1885. Due to the elaborate work by topographically difficult terrain, the work lasted 23 years until 1908, the last gap was finally closed. The route here on the volcanic plateau of the North Island. No less than nine viaducts to cross the deep gorges had to be built, also includes that section of the famous Raurimu spiral, a terminal loop with loop tunnel. The final nail threshold was taken by the Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward in a ceremony on 6 October 1908 at this point in the place Pokaka there is a memorial stone. Since that time, there are continuous connections between Auckland and Wellington, in February 1909 even a night service has been introduced.

Finishing

In the following period the volume of traffic grew steadily, so that not only the desire for stronger locomotives was expressed, but also by the expansion of numerous sharp curves and steep sections. To this end several times successful expansion measures, which partially extended sections were traced out completely new. In the 1930s, the route over the mountains of Johnsonville was in Tawa in Wellington ( which is still used today as a branch line in transport) abbreviated by a tunnel. Also in the 1930s, the portion Auckland - Westfield was ( which is also still used in transport) is replaced by a deeper route with fewer slopes over Hobson 's Bay. In the 1950s, the route of Tawa Porirua or Plimmerton after was expanded to double track and streamlined the section of Porirua after Plimmerton due to the expansion of the port something. Early 1960s was the track in Palmerston North, the cramped previously ran through the town center, moved to the suburbs. In 1981, the realignment Mangaweka - Utiku was opened with three new viaducts. 1985 was a new road section to be inaugurated at Mangaonoho, this could two older tunnels are abandoned. The central section between Ta Rapa and Palmerston North was electrified in the 1980s. In several tunnels had to be increased to the loading gauge.

Electrical extension

The plans for electrical expansion dates back to the year 1918. However, it took until the year 1940, when the section from Wellington to Paekakariki was electrified with 1500 V DC. But benefited in only the transport, the electrical equipment in 1983 northward extended to Paraparaumu.

The 411 km long section between Palmerston North and Hamilton, however, was electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC voltage; the electrical equipment was opened in June 1988. Benefited in essentially the freight, especially because long freight trains with electric traction could overcome the long slopes faster.

Plans for the electrification of additional routes include the expansion of the suburban network of Wellington north from Paraparaumu to Waikanae Lindale or 1500 V DC voltage. Also, there are plans for the electrification of the suburban network of Auckland.

Long-distance passenger

Since the opening of the line there was always scheduled long-distance passenger traffic between Auckland and Wellington.

Between 1963 and 1968 there was a daily service called Scenic Daylight. From 1968 wrong railcars on the track, which plied previously rather unsuccessfully between Hamilton and Auckland. These received an innovative blue paint and were also known under the name Blue Streak.

1971 a night service was introduced with luxurious sleeping car, the Silver Star. However, this compound had to be discontinued due to lack of capacity in 1979. Much more successful was the Day Connection Silver Fern, which was introduced in 1972 as a replacement of the Blue Streak and was operated by railcars. It was stopped in 1991 and by the Overlander by Kiwi Rail Scenic Journeys (formerly Tranz Scenic ) replaced. The operator of this remote connection, Toll Rail, proposed in September 2006 without replacement setting this once daily service in both directions trains. Due to massive protests of the web user and from the policy of this project was canceled two days before the entry into force of the setting. As a consequence, however, the schedule has been significantly limited in the winter months again. 2012 took place renaming in Northern Explorer in conjunction with other timetable restrictions.

Transport

Auckland

In the Auckland region commuter trains between Britomart Transport Centre and the main train station Pukekohe runs every traffic.

Wellington

The NIMT is part of the suburban network Tranz Metro Wellington between Wellington and Waikanae station ( Kapiti Coast). From Palmerston North to Wellington the Capital Connection train runs as a daily connection.

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