The Golden Triangle Passenger Rail Initiative, is frequent ‘tap’ and travel ‘public transport’ style intra/inter-regional passenger rail services between Auckland, Hamilton, Te Kuiti, Tauranga, Rotorua and Tokoroa with connecting bus services to and from Taupo and between Hamilton and Palmerston North from 2030 onwards using next generation of 5 carriage, bi directional electric battery passenger train sets based on the production specifications of Wellington’s new ‘Tuhono’ passenger train sets. \
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The Golden Triangle passenger rail network would consist of the following lines – \
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**a. Line 1 – Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Te Puke** \
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Stations – \
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Auckland (The Strand), Middlemore (for Middlemore Hospital)\*, Puihuni (Auckland airport), Papakura, Pukekohe, Tuakau\*, Pokeno, Te Kauwhata, Ohinewai (Sleepy Head Estate)\*, Huntly, Ngaruawahia\*, Rotokauri, Frankton, Hamilton Central, Ruakura, Morrinsville, Otumoetai\*, Tauranga, Te Puke\*.
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 3hrs 30mins \
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Service Frequency: Initially 3 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 1 operational spare based in Tauranga.
**b. Line 2 – Auckland, Hamilton and Te Kuiti** \
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Stations – \
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Auckland (The Strand), Middlemore (for Middlemore Hospital)\*, Puihuni (Auckland airport), Papakura\*, Pukekohe, Tuakau\*, Pokeno, Te Kauwhata, Ohinewai (Sleepy Head Estate)\*, Huntly, Ngaruawahia\*, Rotokauri, Frankton, Rukuhia (Hamilton Airport)\*, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Te Kuiti.
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 3hrs 15 mins \
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Service Frequency: Initially 4 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 1 operational spare based in Te Kuiti. \
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**c. Line 3 – Auckland, Hamilton and Tokorora** \
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Stations – \
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Auckland (The Strand), Middlemore (for Middlemore Hospital)\*, Puihuni (Auckland airport), Papakura\*, Pukekohe, Tuakau\*, Pokeno, Te Kauwhata, Ohinewai (Sleepy Head Estate)\*, Huntly, Ngaruawahia*, Rotokauri, Frankton, Hamilton Central, Ruakura, Morrinsville, Matamata, Tirau, Putaruru, Tokoroa.
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 4 hrs 15 mins \
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Service Frequency: Initially 4 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 1 operational spare based in Putaruru. \
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Line 3 would have connecting Busit bus services between Tokoroa and Taupo. \
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**c. Line 4 – Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua** \
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Stations – \
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Auckland (The Strand), Middlemore (for Middlemore Hospital)\*, Puihuni (Auckland airport), Papakura\*, Pukekohe, Tuakau, Pokeno, Te Kauwhata, Ohinewai (Sleepy Head Estate)\*, Huntly, Ngaruawahia\*, Rotokauri, Frankton, Hamilton Central, Ruakura, Morrinsville, Matamata, Tirau, Putaruru, Rotorua.
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 4 hours \
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Service Frequency: Initially 4 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 1 operational spare based in Putaruru.
**d. Line 5 – Tauranga, Matamata and Rotorua**
Stations – \
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Te Puke\*, Tauranga, Otumoetai\*, Matamata, Tirau, Putaruru, Rotorua
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 2 hrs 50mins \
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Service Frequency: Initially 2 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 1 operational spare based in Putaruru. \
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**e. Line 6 – Hamilton and Palmerston North** \
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Stations – \
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Hamilton (Frankton), Rukuhia (Hamilton airport)\*, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, National Park, Ohakune, Waiouru, Taihape, Hunterville\*, Marton, Feilding, Palmerston North.
\* Future stations \
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Journey time approximately 5hrs 45mins \
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Service Frequency: Initially 2 return services per day. \
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Number of train sets required: 2 with 2 operational spares based in Hamilton and Palmerston North. \
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**Total number of Trains sets –** \
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25 bi-directional electric (25kva) battery passenger train sets. \
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17 operational train sets \
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2 permanently allocated for full/heavy maintenance at Hamilton Depot \
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6 ‘active’ spare serviceable train sets at Hamilton Depot \
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**Maintenance/Stabling depots**
Regional overnight stabling/overnight slow recharging/maintenance/crew base –
Tauranga \
Putaruru \
Palmerston North
Overnight stabling/overnight slow recharging/crew base –
Mercer/Pokeno \
Te Kuiti
**Main operations/administration centre, full maintenance, spares, stabling, training and crew base**
Hamilton
The Hamilton Operations Centre and Maintenance stabling facility would need to be future proofed for a total of 12 train sets. \
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For further information concerning the points raised in this concept:
\- [](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/new-zealand-unified-public-transport-strategy-05-01-2024)[National Public Transport Strategy](https://publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/national-public-transport-strategy-18-09-2026/) \
- [Time for a national regional passenger rail network](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/the-future-of-passenger-rail-in-new-zealand-is-regional-rail-07-07-2025/) \
- [Time for a national public transport network](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/national-public-transport-network-07-06-2022) \
- [Lets Connect Communities](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/connecting-communities-2030-01-02-2022/) \
- [Future of New Zealand’s land transport and communities](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/the-future-of-new-zealand-land-transport-08-03-2024) \
- [Can semi rural towns and small rural communities have public transport?](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/can-small-semi-rural-towns-and-rural-communities-has-public-transport-10-08-2022/)
If you support a national public transport network concept, [have your say](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/get-involved/) or become proactive by getting involved in local [better public transport campaign groups](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/about/). \
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The *CityConnect – inter-regional public transport network* is a Better Passenger Transport New Zealand initiative and supported by Public Transport Forum New Zealand.
