New Zealand - Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility (LNIRIM) Program

[HamBuoy]

I found this when looking into Alstom's BEMU offering. Another Adessia Stream B BEMU.

Alstom awarded a €538m contract in Wellington, New Zealand for 18 Adessia Stream B battery trains and 35 years of maintenance

Contract signed with the Greater Wellington, a regional council in New Zealand’s Lower North Island, for the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility (LNIRIM) program

www.alstom.com

Alstom, global leader in smart sustainable mobility solutions, has been awarded a €538m[1] (NZD$1,065m) contract by the Greater Wellington Regional Council for the design, manufacture and supply of 18 Adessia Stream B battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) 5-car trains and 35-years of FlexCare Perform fleet maintenance. They will be the first BEMU commuter trains operating in New Zealand. The trains will enable emission free operations on non-electrified segments of the Wellington rail network, on the Wairarapa and Manawatu lines.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

They will be replacing diesel-hauled trains using BR Mark 2 coaches that were exported to New Zealand and converted to Cape gauge.

Wairarapa Connection - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Capital Connection - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

New Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriage - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[D365]

My understanding is that the Wellington units are to be based on the upcoming DART 90000 Class. However the cab front seen in these renders has an appearance more akin to the SWR Class 701.

 

[HamBuoy]

My understanding is that the Wellington units are to be based on the upcoming DART 90000 Class. However the cab front seen in these renders has an appearance more akin to the SWR Class 701.

Yes similar in appearance to the Class 701 but with an evacuation door.


This video gives an overview of the train and facilities.

Do we know what other manufacturers bid for this order?

 

[Richard Scott]

When are these units expected to enter service?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

From the Alstom press release:

the fleet will replace the current diesel locomotive-hauled trains due for retirement in 2028 and 2029

 

[stadler]

So if i have understood it correctly these trains will take over the locomotive hauled trains on both the Wairapa Connection (Wellington to Masterton) on the Wairapa line and on the Capital Connection (Wellington to Palmerston North) on the Manawatu line. Currently only the Masterton service is operated by Metlink with the Palmerston North service operated by Kiwi Rail instead. So does this mean that Metlink will take over operation of the Capital Connection to Palmerston North once these trains enter service? Or are they splitting the units between the two operators?