NZ Regional Electric Battery Diesel Hybrid Train Proposal in New Zealand

New Zealand

https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2022/07/04/regional-trains-and-electrification/

A story a few weeks ago highlighted that lower North Island councils are frustrated that the government didn’t provide funding in the budget for new regional trains.

The Transport Minister has left the door open for 22 new electric trains, after lower North Island mayors kicked up a stink they weren’t funded in this year’s Budget.

The four-car trains would replace “vintage” units and quadruple peak-time services between Palmerston North and Wellington on the Manawatū line, while doubling them between Masterton and the capital on the Wairarapa line.

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Now, Ponter and Horizons Regional Council, supported by 15 mayors, have written to the Transport and Finance Ministers after their $360 million Budget bid towards the $762m project failed.

They said they were surprised and disappointed.

“We are now working against the clock to replace our fleets of 50-year-old regional rail carriages, which will soon reach the end of their working lives,” the letter said.

“The tender process for new trains must continue unabated so we look forward to engaging with you on finding ways to unlock Waka Kotahi and other funding for procurement.”

The plan is to buy 22 four-car tri-mode trains – trains that are powered by electricity when under wires and by a combination of batteries and a fuel based ‘compression-ignition’ engine when off-wire – the exact type of fuel is not specified.

00:00 Intro Background
04:00 Regional Electrification Proposal
8:10 Route maps
11:30 Wellington Routes
16:00 Electric and Diesel Hybrid
19:00 Hydro Power
20:05 Multi mode trains