A Te Huia Adventure

Arriving back at Frankton station for train 102, DFB 7295 again finds itself idling at the platform, this time to be at the rear of the service

5 February 2024

Now the lead vehicle for the passenger service, SRV 5993 sits at the platform also waiting for departure

5 February 2024

Heading out of Te Rapa light loco, DL 9227 heads south towards Te Awamutu

5 February 2024

DL 9227 passes SRV 5993 sitting at the platform, with the locomotive heading to Te Awamutu light

5 February 2024

Shortly before departure, passengers take their place on board the train, with SRV 5993 leading the service to The Strand

5 February 2024

Inside SR 3285, now the last carriage on the train. The SR class features seating only, with an SRC class carriage second in the consist having an onboard café and the SRV class carriage having a generator and driving cab

5 February 2024

Passing through Te Rapa, the other two Te Huia consists sit outside in the yard, connected to shore power

5 February 2024

Further north at Amokura, SRV 5993 comes across one of its problematic crossings. Because of collision protection concerns, trains are restricted to 25km/h over crossings where the SRV class is leading and the crossing does not have barrier arms. As most of the line between Hamilton and Auckland is double-tracked, only two crossings are affected

5 February 2024

Back at Papakura, inside the Auckland metro area, AM 471 pulls out of the stabling yard while AM 509 waits its turn to exit for peak hour services. Both units happen to be wrapped with rail safety artwork

5 February 2024

The problems (albeit minor for this train) began for train 102 just before Homai. After sitting behind a suburban unit for some time, Te Huia was switched to the Down Main at Wiri, here overtaking stationary AM 864 on the Down Main

5 February 2024

At Puhinui, train 102 used the opposite platform from usual, with AM 306 and AM 212 sitting on the northbound platform. Te Huia was routed around this train, using the Down Main in the Up direction until at least Otahuhu

5 February 2024

At Puhinui, Te Huia quickly exchanges passengers while AM 212 and AM 306 block the Down Main

5 February 2024

SRV 5993 waits for passengers to disembark at Puhinui, a set-down only station for train 102. The train is also about to make an unusual departure in the "wrong" direction

5 February 2024

With Te Huia now long gone, AM 212 still sits on the Up Main, now displaying "Out of service" on the destination board

5 February 2024