Pukekohe Station Reopens

Although not quite yet timetabled, SRV 5993 leads train 100 to a stop at Pukekohe station. The train waited here for an EMU to depart from Platform 4, which in turn waited for train MR1 to pass through

Sitting on Platform 4, AM 509 and AM 593 wait to depart Pukekohe for Waitematā, while train 100 sits on Platform 2

The following service, made up of AM 334 and AM 511, also sits at Platform 4. Most services depart from Platforms 3 and 4

Walking across the upgraded bridge at Pukekohe, now with meshing along the sides

Passing through the ticket gates onto Platforms 3 and 4

Looking north, AM 334 sits under the bridge waiting to run north to Waitematā

On board AM 334 at Pukekohe, looking out towards the ticket gates

Standing on Pukekohe Platform 3, looking over Platforms 1 and 2, as well at the Down main acting as a platform bypass

At Puhinui, AM 362 and AM 674 arrive on a Southern Line service, displaying their new destination of Pukekohe

On Waitangi Day with a public holiday timetable operating, AM 430 arrives into Pukekohe station solo. This day marked the first time Pukekohe had regular services all the way to Waitematā station on a weekend or public holiday, as these were originally introduced with the shuttle format

AM 430 pulls into Pukekohe station, making its way to Platform 4 off the two main lines

A short time later, AM 430 departs Pukekohe again heading for Waitematā, with DL 9348 now waiting on the Up Main with train MP6

AM 430 crosses most of the tracks at Pukekohe station to make its way back to the Up Main

Now with passenger trains out of the way, DL 9348 restarts train MP6 and heads for Southdown

DL 9348 pulls out of Pukekohe station with train MP6 in tow, entering the newly electrified section

At Pukekohe station, three EMUs are stabled on the dual-purpose Platform 1, of which AM 402 is the middle unit. The platform is fenced off and used as a stabling area outside of peak hours, but can have services load passengers from here when required

Just north of Pukekohe station, AM 334 departs Pukekohe on the start of the trip between the two furtherest stations on the Auckland network

AM 334 begins its journey from Pukekohe, stopping at Papakura first on its trip to Waitematā

Further north, AM 334 traverses the Paerata junction, now a partially electrified junction

AM 334 has now passed the southern leg of the triangle at Paerata, heading north towards Papakura and Waitematā

Visible from over 2km away at the top of Cape Hill, AM 334 and AM 537 cross each other near the pedestrian level crossing

AM 537 rolls past Paerata junction, heading south to its final destination of Pukekohe

AM 537 passes banner indicators for the Up direction at Paerata. The signalling was extensively upgraded as part of the massive works required south of Papakura, including some new signals on the Mission Bush Branch

Heading north, DL 9423 leads train 142 towards the Paerata junction, shortly before the climb on the branch line

Train 142 gets a medium speed signal to the Mission Bush Branch, shortly before tackling the first hill on the line. This view demonstrates a quirk of repeater indicator behaviour; namely showing a stop indication when a train is occupying the section between it and its signal

Train 142 enters the Mission Bush Branch at Paerata

DL 9423 starts the climb from Paerata with train 142

Visible on the hill, DL 9423 powers up the grade towards Mission Bush, now out of the electrified area after a brief run under the wires

Slightly further north at Paerata, DL 9792 leads train MP3 south through the junction. The future Paerātā station will not sit within Paerata station limits

DL 9792 works hard with train MP3, heading south under new wires

On occasion, a container is loaded with a missing door, allowing a peek inside. This container on train MP3 is carrying a pallet of onions

Heading past the old Paerata station site, AM 701 runs a southbound service towards Pukekohe

AM 701 heading south crosses AM 537 heading north at Paerata

AM 701 silently rolls through Paerata, an upgrade on the diesel trains that served Pukekohe until 2022

AM 646 heads south towards Pukekohe, passing the future Ngākōroa station. The new station is slated to open in late 2026, with new development being built around it

AM 646 passes the new Ngākōroa station under construction

Heading the other way, AM 701 passes Ngākōroa station on a run to Waitematā

Evidence of a overheight vehicle is obvious as AM 334 crosses McPherson Road south to Pukekohe. The bridge has been a frequent site of bridge strikes, forcing cancellations of services to Pukekohe in the past

The northernmost new station south of Pukekohe is at Drury, which has a short section of platform edging in place. Here, AM 225 heads south towards Pukekohe, passing what exists of the platform

The platform edge that currently exists barely fits a 3 car train, however the final station will be long enough for 6 cars and future proofed for 9 cars. AM 225 makes a speedy run south past the under-construction station

DL 9515 powers through the future Drury station with train MP4 in tow

DL 9515 works hard as it brings train MP4 through Drury station

Train MP4 heads north with DL 9515 on the head, passing Drury station

A wider view of Drury station, with DL 9515 bringing train MP4 through the site

Passing behind, AM 646 heads through Drury station on a run north

AM 646 passes through Drury without stopping as it heads north to Waitematā. Running times for Papakura to Pukekohe already include extra time for the new stations, avoiding the need to change the timetable again when they open

Between Sutton Road and Opaheke Road, a private driveway crossing exists to serve two houses. This crossing has recently been upgraded to feature barrier arms, a KiwiRail requirement in double tracked areas. AM 849 passes over the crossing on a northbound run to Waitematā

At Boundary Road, DL 9469 brings a short train 228 into Papakura station limits