Pukekohe EMU Clearance Testing

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