Probably best served by cycle friendly buses from Huntly. Unfortunately, a Ngāruawāhia station is likely to be vandalised, and not be a pleasant place to get off.
For the replacement trains when the BR MK II cars reach end of life (yes they've had extensicve panelbeating but at core they are more than 50 years old already), why not hook into the supply chain for the new hybrid trains proposed for the Wellington region? The wheel doesn't need reinventing a thousand times.
Came here to say exactly this. It would be necessary to go dual voltage hybrid, but Spain has these already. These units could then travel the entire N.I. network if required at some future, more enlightened time, with the possible exception of Napier.
A Ngāruawāhia stop would hook into the Te Awa River Ride nicely for cyclists, even if just Friday/weekends
Probably best served by cycle friendly buses from Huntly. Unfortunately, a Ngāruawāhia station is likely to be vandalised, and not be a pleasant place to get off.
For the replacement trains when the BR MK II cars reach end of life (yes they've had extensicve panelbeating but at core they are more than 50 years old already), why not hook into the supply chain for the new hybrid trains proposed for the Wellington region? The wheel doesn't need reinventing a thousand times.
Came here to say exactly this. It would be necessary to go dual voltage hybrid, but Spain has these already. These units could then travel the entire N.I. network if required at some future, more enlightened time, with the possible exception of Napier.
And their design speed specs are for 120 kmh...
Can the driving trailers not be fitted with the ETCS equipment?
For the medium term they need to look at Secondhand electric locos that will allow access to Britomart once the CRL opens.