Hutt Valley Line - Operation - Passenger Services

Passenger Services

The original route was operated by C, D, and L class steam locomotives in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1905, D 137 was utilised in trials on the Hutt Valley Line of a "railcar" service between Lower and Upper Hutt based on a concept the Railways Department's General Manager had witnessed in the eastern United States. This involved D 137 hauling a carriage that seated 24 first class passengers and 48 second class passengers, and had a guard's compartment. However, it was not economic and grossly over-powered, and accordingly, it was soon taken out of service and the Railways Department pursued research into genuine railcars, culminating in various classes covered by the general RM class designation.

On 11 December 1897, the Wairarapa Line was completed to its junction with the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line at Woodville, allowing the commencement of the Napier Express from Wellington through the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa to Napier in the Hawkes Bay. This was the premier service on the Hutt Valley Line until early 1909, when it was re-routed via the west coast route that the Railways Department had recently been acquired from the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. Its replacement was the Wairarapa Mail, an express train that ran the Napier Express's former Wellington to Woodville leg. Through the Hutt Valley, the express was typically hauled by WW class tank locomotives. In 1936, the Wairarapa railcars were introduced to the Wairarapa runs, decreasing the frequency of the express and ultimately leading to its cancellation in 1948. No named provincial express has operated on the Wairarapa Line since this time.

Suburban trains in the 20th century prior to electrification were typically hauled by WAB and WW class tank locomotives. Prior to full electrification, services beyond Taita were hauled by DE class diesels. Full electrification saw duties shared between DM/D class multiple units and carriage trains hauled by ED and EW class electric locomotives, the latter class ordered for the Wellington electrified network when the Hutt Valley electrification project was approved. The EDs were withdrawn by 1980 and EWs by 1983.

In 1982-83 the EM/ET multiple units were introduced, taking over most services, so that the DM/D multiple units used on the line since 1953 were used only at peak times. The introduction of the FP class EMUs from 2011 provided extra passenger capacity, and enabled the remaining DM/D class EMUs to be withdrawn in 2012.

Metlink Commuter trains run frequently throughout each day, operated by Tranz Metro, with stops at 18 stations. This service is augmented by Metlink commuter trains from Masterton in the Wairarapa, the Wairarapa Connection. It operates several times daily and is hauled mainly by DC class locomotives.