Pukekohe EMU Clearance Tests

[@bendafyddgillard]

A bit tedious but necessary work, and good to see the progress. Saw the three new stations on the map in Britomart/Waitematā station the other day, "coming 2025". Something.. poignant about an old diesel locomotive pulling a newish EMU through testing. "Soon all of this will be yours".

[@John-wd5om]

I love this video , it is cool to see a dbr used instead of a kiwirail locomotive 😊

[@blairhinton7535]

I guess it must have been cheaper for AT to hire GVR's DBR than to get a loco from Kiwirail

[@stinchjack]

Or that GVR were more helpful

[@IxtimmibosRailRT1430]

KiwiRail refused to let Auckland Transport borrow a loco, according to the big train boss who stays at waitemata

[@bnrailfannz8262]

Funny.....sort of. Good on GVR!​@@IxtimmibosRailRT1430

[@stinchjack]

Very cool. Im guessing DBR1254 was turned at the Paerata Triangle?

[@KeithMile]

adventure video. kevin

[@marc21091]

Now start work on extending the 25kV electrification to Hamilton (or to Te Rapa which is 3 km north of Hamilton station).

[@Eventer_Hunter]

maybe when all public transportation is used by one card in New Zealand, or we can switch trains at Pukekohe

[@marc21091]

@@Eventer_Hunter Most of the line from Pukekohe to Te Rapa (the freight yard 3km north of Hamilton Frankton station) is double-track. Extension of 25kV to Hamilton would include doubling this section, a few bridges to replace level crossings on the main roads, and reopening 2-3 stations. Limited stop trains could then operate between Hamilton (reopening its under-town-centre station) and Auckland Britomart on an hourly interval. That would bring to New Zealand European standards of modern rail service. Freight operation would then be by electric haulage between Auckland and Palmerston North, and there should be an end to diesel locomotives hauling container and other freight trains 'under the wires' for hundreds of kilometres. Apparently the 25kV catenary in the Auckland region is slightly different from that installed in the 1980s between Hamilton and Palmerston North so the EF locos could not use it without modification. Better perhaps to sell them (to Queensland Rail?) and buy new electric locomotives from Europe which can operate on both 25kV AC and 1700v DC (in the Wellington region). France has had two voltages for historical reasons for decades, so is perhaps the country that builds the best dual-voltage locos.

[@IxtimmiboRT1427]

Will they ever do a 6 car testing to pukekohe?

[@dohyunkim805]

Why kiwirail locomotives weren't for the testing?

[@Kiwitrailchannel]

The AMs have finally reached their first milestone

[@georgethomas7814]

Yeah still toddlers got a lot more to achieve.

[@TxtalArmi]

When will the electric wires come in action?

[@DWtrainsNZ]

Around mid January next year.

[@NeilDENNEY]

Naive question: if the trains used to run this route, why do they need so much testing?

[@pcuser42]

Electric trains are new to the Papakura to Pukekohe section; the overhead lines as well as newly installed safety equipment all needed testing. Previously, Pukekohe was served by diesel trains.

[@kyleforsberg5463]

how was the coupling done? did they make a chopper-shaku adapter just for this train?

[@nzrailphotos-yt]

Each AM unit carries a Scharfenberg to chopper and automatic transition head on board, in case of emergencies. In this case, it looks like one was delivered to the GVR ahead of time as you can see it attached to 1254's coupler in the first shot.

[@kyleforsberg5463]

@@nzrailphotos-yt ok thanks. in that case I'd assume they'd also carry on for knuckle couplers aswell?

[@WeaponKingNZ]

Why'd they need GVR power for this testing?

[@nzrailphotos-yt]

We're not 100% sure why KiwiRail couldn't provide a locomotive, but the EMU needed to be towed as the overhead power is not yet live south of Papakura

[@WeaponKingNZ]

@@nzrailphotos-yt hope they got a good rate to pick up Kiwirail's slack haha

[@dogmannz]

Most likely GVR gave them a better price. And probably encouraged AT to let them hold on to the rescue adapter for future use.

[@ktmdukenz]

A lot of AOR members work for GVR now as well. They are preferred, haha.

[@KiwiRailSpotter]

Nice Video! This woukdve been cool to see. 🫤