The contract for new trains running on long-distance commuter routes between Wellington, Manawatū and Wairarapa is set to be announced this month or September.
The 18 four-car trains were set to replace existing rolling stock on the Capital Connection and Wairarapa lines that run to Palmerston North and Masterton respectively, doubling the number of peak-time services, cutting travel times on both lines by 15 minutes and replacing the 50-year-old carriages.
Papers submitted to the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s transport committee meeting on Thursday expected an announcement of the contract details “in August or September 2025” and the trains would be in service in 2029.
Contract for new lower North Island trains to be announced soon
