Pukekohe EMU Clearance Testing

Running light loco as train A82, DBR 1254 crosses Pilgrim Road en route from Glenbrook to Papakura, with the Scharfenberg coupler adapter already attached. A brave rabbit hops over the rail in front of the locomotive

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 runs long hood heading from Glenbrook to Papakura to collect an EMU for testing

17 May 2024

Coming from Wiri to meet the locomotive, AM 306 runs along the Down Main at Papakura, an unusual movement for an EMU

17 May 2024

After entering the backshunt and switching directions. AM 306 enters the stabling yard to wait for DBR 1254

17 May 2024

AM 306 rolls past the lush green hills near Papakura station as it enters the stabling yard

17 May 2024

After waiting for train 220 and 6-car EMU to clear, DBR 1254 enters the stabling yard at Papakura to couple up to AM 306

17 May 2024

Perfectly framed by the overhead gantry featuring a new pole, DBR 1254 rolls into the stabling yard

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 enters the stabling yard at Papakura

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 stops in the stabling yard before coupling up to AM 306, with lots of staff around

17 May 2024

With DBR 1254 coupled up and just waiting for a staff briefing, AM 266 and AM 620 roll into the other track in the stabling yard

17 May 2024

Wrapped unit AM 620 trails AM 266 as the pair enter the stabling yard after peak hours

17 May 2024

AM 266 and AM 620 are put away while DBR 1254 waits for departure for Pukekohe

17 May 2024

The very full stabling yard at Papakura, seeing a diesel powered vehicle for the first time in many years

17 May 2024

DL 9728 rolls past with train MP4, the last northbound train in the queue to get through Papakura

17 May 2024

Heading south, DFB 7077 leads train 101 out of Papakura station, its last stop in Auckland before stopping at Huntly in the Waikato Region. DBR 1254 needed to wait for this train to depart first, to avoid delaying passengers with the test train's low speed

17 May 2024

Now ready for departure, DBR 1254 pulls out of the stabing yard with AM 306 in tow, running as TT19

17 May 2024

An unusual consist departs Papakura stabling yard en route to Pukekohe

17 May 2024

Another unusual movement at Papakura as a train heads from the stabing yard directly onto the Down Main, instead of into the backshunt. DBR 1254 pulls away with AM 306 in tow, at a maximum speed of 40km/h

17 May 2024

At Drury station, the platform faces have been installed, which is all that was required for this testing. For testing, DBR 1254 enters the platform then stops before AM 306 does, then slowly drags the EMU past the platform with occasional stops for measuring

17 May 2024

The first carriage of AM 306 is now on the platform as workers check the clearance of the unit

17 May 2024

A little more progress has been made as DBR 1254 drags AM 306 past the platform edges

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 has now almost cleared the platform itself, with AM 306 almost at the end

17 May 2024

The cab of AM 306 has now cleared the platform, with testing almost completed at this platform. The other platform will be checked on the return journey

17 May 2024

While testing was under way, DFB 7335 rushes past at its normal speed at the back of train 106, passing stationary DBR 1254

17 May 2024

AM 306 creeps past the new platform at Drury, having not yet hit anything

17 May 2024

The first two carriages, AMA and AMT 306, have now made it past the platform without issues

17 May 2024

The coupling between DBR 1254 and AM 306, with the adapter in place. The adapter converts between DBR 1254's older "chopper" style coupler and AM 306's Scharfenberg coupler

17 May 2024

AMP 306 has also now mostly cleared the platform. For testing, the pantograph on the unit was lowered for the entire journey, leaving the unit without power

17 May 2024

With AM 306 now clear of the southbound platform at Drury, DBR 1254 accelerates to the maximum authorised speed of 40km/h and heads for the next station at Ngākōroa

17 May 2024

AMP 306 trails the train as it heads for Pukekohe

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 is hidden from view at the Ngākōroa station site, with AM 306 sticking out from the temporary wooden fence. While the station is currently surrounded by fields, development is planned in the area, with a new school near the station already almost completed

17 May 2024

After checking clearances at Paerātā station, out of sight of any roads, DBR 1254 leads AM 306 through the old Paerata station site after crossing Crown Road

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 rolls through the old Paerata station, with the new station serving the new development slightly north of here

17 May 2024

The location of the old platform at Paerata is visible here as DBR 1254 meanders south to Pukekohe

17 May 2024

A soon-to-be-common sight, sort of, as DBR 1254 leads dead AM 306 south through Paerata

17 May 2024

AMP 306 trails the train through Paerata junction, now electrified and with extra crossovers

17 May 2024

At Pukekohe station, DBR 1254 stops at the existing platform, now known as Platform 4 on the Eastern Loop. With this test train, AM 306 became the first EMU to visit Pukekohe and also the first to leave the initial electrified area

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 drags AM 306 past Platform 4 at Pukekohe. Each platform needs to be checked here, so a lot of movements were done to cover each platform

17 May 2024

The end of AM 306 sits at the end of Platform 4 after the first test at Pukekohe was completed. Visible in the windscreen are GVR tail lights, required as AM 306 did not have power to light up its own

17 May 2024

Shelters at Pukekohe station are also almost completed, with signage yet to be installed. AM 306 poses next to the shelter to give a view of the future

17 May 2024

After setting back, DBR 1254 then leads the train into Platform 3 on the Eastern Main. The train was authorised to travel over all tracks in station limits except the stabling sidings, with all other services still using the Eastern Loop exclusively

17 May 2024

The train shines in the sun as it enters Platform 3

17 May 2024

DBR 1254 stopped on Platform 3, with AM 306 yet to pass the platform. Platform 3 is the old Up platform, now known as the Eastern Main

17 May 2024

Workers check the clearances on AM 306 while DBR 1254 waits

17 May 2024

AM 306 has now been dragged down Platform 3 and is being checked

17 May 2024

Passing by on the in-service Eastern Loop, DL 9354 leads train MP3 through Pukekohe, with the test train now out of the way of revenue services

17 May 2024

The tail end of train MP3 passes AM 306, with several visions of the future possible

17 May 2024

Following closely behind train MP3, DL 9705 and DL 9066 pass through with train 229

17 May 2024