Plimmerton Railway Station
Encyclopedia
Plimmerton Railway Station is on the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) in Plimmerton
, Porirua
, New Zealand
, and is part of Wellington's Metlink suburban rail network operated by Tranz Metro
. It is double tracked around a long island platform, with subway access from Steyne Avenue and Plimmerton Domain's Park and Ride to the north, and a controlled crossing to Steyne Avenue and Mainline Steam at the south end of the platform. Mainline Steam
, a heritage steam train restorer and operator, is located in the former goods yard next to the station.
, a part of KiwiRail
. Trains run every 30 minutes outside peak times, and more frequently during peak periods. All services running between Waikanae and Wellington stop here, with some terminating.
Metlink services are formed Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). Diesel-hauled KiwiRail freight trains and Tranz Scenic
carriage trains pass through the station but do not stop.
Mack's Track http://www.mackstrack.co.nz, a railway model specialist, operates a destination store, ticket agency and kiosk inside the station, and maintains a waiting room. Bicycle racks and lockers are also provided on the platform. A park and ride car park adjoining the station is located at Plimmerton Domain.
The original station building constructed in 1885 was on the west side of the line, and was replaced with the current station in 1940 when double tracking was completed. There were also several other tracks and a goods shed. For many years, the new station also served as a venue for the community. The station was staffed until 1989 and still houses a control panel used for access for Mainline Steam's trains and other rail operations.
The station building was identified as being of special importance under the Village Strategy Plan put together by the Plimmerton Residents' Association (PRA) as a part of Porirua City Council's Village Planning Programme.
An important part of this successful small scale transit-oriented development
was Mack's Track occupying the station building when finished and providing a ticket agency, cafe and destination store as well as acting as a "Station Master" with the PRA for a public waiting room and other facilities for train passengers and the local community.,
The restored station building was reopened on 10 October 2010, commemorating the 125th anniversary of trains to Plimmerton, 70 years since the opening of the existing station building and electrification of the line and 21 years since the station building had been closed to the public.
The Plimmerton Station Restoration Project has been applauded for its successful partnering of the community with the rail operator and the local authority to enable the preservation of local heritage while enhancing the operation of a modern rail transit system. The project received a Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand Restoration Award in 2011, being recognised as "a model for other station restorations throughout the country."
Plimmerton
The township of Plimmerton is adjacent to one of the more congenial beaches in the northwest part of the Wellington urban area of Porirua in New Zealand...
, Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and is part of Wellington's Metlink suburban rail network operated by Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
. It is double tracked around a long island platform, with subway access from Steyne Avenue and Plimmerton Domain's Park and Ride to the north, and a controlled crossing to Steyne Avenue and Mainline Steam at the south end of the platform. Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over rail lines throughout New Zealand...
, a heritage steam train restorer and operator, is located in the former goods yard next to the station.
Services
Plimmerton Station is served by Kapiti Line trains operated by Tranz MetroTranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
, a part of KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
. Trains run every 30 minutes outside peak times, and more frequently during peak periods. All services running between Waikanae and Wellington stop here, with some terminating.
Metlink services are formed Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). Diesel-hauled KiwiRail freight trains and Tranz Scenic
Tranz Scenic
Tranz Scenic is the long-distance passenger train brand of KiwiRail, formed from the New Zealand Railways Corporation InterCity Rail services. Tranz Scenic was renamed along with the other operating divisions of Tranz Rail in 1995...
carriage trains pass through the station but do not stop.
Mack's Track http://www.mackstrack.co.nz, a railway model specialist, operates a destination store, ticket agency and kiosk inside the station, and maintains a waiting room. Bicycle racks and lockers are also provided on the platform. A park and ride car park adjoining the station is located at Plimmerton Domain.
History
The rail corridor through Plimmerton was built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). The line reached Plimmerton in 1885 and proved to be a very popular beach destination for weekend visitors from Wellington who would ride the train to Plimmerton to "take the waters".The original station building constructed in 1885 was on the west side of the line, and was replaced with the current station in 1940 when double tracking was completed. There were also several other tracks and a goods shed. For many years, the new station also served as a venue for the community. The station was staffed until 1989 and still houses a control panel used for access for Mainline Steam's trains and other rail operations.
The station building was identified as being of special importance under the Village Strategy Plan put together by the Plimmerton Residents' Association (PRA) as a part of Porirua City Council's Village Planning Programme.
Station Building Reopening
The station building was closed to the public from October 1989. Faced with the threat of demolition in 2004, the local community and Porirua City Council sought to organise the support needed to repair the empty station rather than have it replaced by minimalist shelters. Funding and implementing the repairs was not resolved until 2009, when Tranz Metro and the PRA signed a Community Rail Partnership (CRP) to govern the restoration and future use of the station building, and Tranz Metro and Mack's Track (a model railway retailer) signed an Agreement to Lease (ATL) the building if it was made good. With the participation of other stakeholders, including Porirua City Council and the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand, this CRP created a framework for repairs and other work to commence, and the ATL provided for a tenant to occupy the building on an ongoing basis once the project was finished.An important part of this successful small scale transit-oriented development
Transit-oriented development
A transit-oriented development is a mixed-use residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership...
was Mack's Track occupying the station building when finished and providing a ticket agency, cafe and destination store as well as acting as a "Station Master" with the PRA for a public waiting room and other facilities for train passengers and the local community.,
The restored station building was reopened on 10 October 2010, commemorating the 125th anniversary of trains to Plimmerton, 70 years since the opening of the existing station building and electrification of the line and 21 years since the station building had been closed to the public.
The Plimmerton Station Restoration Project has been applauded for its successful partnering of the community with the rail operator and the local authority to enable the preservation of local heritage while enhancing the operation of a modern rail transit system. The project received a Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand Restoration Award in 2011, being recognised as "a model for other station restorations throughout the country."