Metlink Waikanae to Wellington Drivers View

[@alasdairwright1397]

First travelled to Waikanae from Wellington in 2011. As to get away from all of the Seismic Activity. I have travelled to Hamilton in 1985 via The Northerner...in November of that year

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, I trained to and from welly a few times, it's good to be able to view the trip from home, thanks for sharing

[@richardvoogd705]

Thank you for sharing this video. Interesting to see the searchlight signals, since replaced, in a couple of places.

[@richardvoogd705]

I understand that there is (or was?) another tunnel between the "Neptune" and "Brighton" tunnels, which was decommissioned in 1900 due to safety concerns. For a while the northern portal was visible back in the 1980s, but it's pretty much inaccessible these days.

[@scottmaclean1248]

Correct. It was bypassed because the land was unstable, and I believe a driver lost an eye to a brick that was dislodged from the lining. Despite that, it's still there in the hill

[@ConnerAndFriends1]

Epic!!! I watched the whole thing. Crazy how life can be so beautiful

[@hphp3662]

This must have been a while back. Saw mechanical bells at paekakariki, plimmerton and redwood. Beautiful scenic ride tho.

[@Devilofdoom]

Looking at the road, it looks to be prior to the Kapiti expressway. But obviously it was after Feb 2011, since the electrification before that terminated at Paraparaumu. I'm guessing this was about 2012/2013. Also from the sound of the train I think it's a Ganz-Mavag. Which are no longer in service.

[@richardvoogd705]

​@@DevilofdoomI think there's a surviving Ganz unit at Ferrymead, possibly the "super Ganz" upgraded one. Ferrymead also has examples of Eo (from Otira) and Ec (Christchurch) locomotives. They also have an English Electric set that was in use in Wellington before the introduction of the Ganz units in the 1980s and the Matangi early in the 2010s. I recall travelling through the Lyttelton tunnel on a train hauled by an Ec, back when I was little.

[@MichaelS1995]

I miss this journey. Taken it many many times.

[@K1W1fly]

always a great trip, I've often grabbed a Day Metlink Pass when holidaying in Wellington. The run along the "P-Coast" (most of the locations have names starting with P) is a good day out.

[@bnrailfannz8262]

Dreaded flats....Did the speed of the subbies ever get increased to 100km/h?

[@CapitalVideo]

No, 90Kph is their maximum.

[@bnrailfannz8262]

@@CapitalVideo ok, thankyou

[@jimmcilroy500]

The matangi trains hit 121km/h in testing but they only travel at 90km/h

[@stefanjw]

Normal line speed is 100kph now.

[@jimmcilroy500]

@@stefanjw the matangi trains can travel at 90km/h maximum carrying passengers I haven't heard anything about the speed limit being lifted to 100km/h.

[@thatnzguy]

Bankers at Paekak - this must be going back a few years!

[@blairhinton7535]

No Kapiti expressway, no T Gully. Ganz at Porirua. Def very old footage!

[@richardvoogd705]

The electrification and double tracking was extended to Waikanae in time for it to be opened in February 2010. I think the expressway was to Pekapeka was opened early 2017. I haven't seen a Ganz on the line for a while.

[@marc21091]

The speed of these trains is low. On Cape gauge speeds can be up to 160 km/h (100 mph). Most of the line is straight enough for a speed of 130km/h (80 mph).

[@atom608]

Yeah I agree the line speed of these could of 100% gone atleast 140 on the straights