Two more stops are to be added to KiwiRail’s Northern Explorer service between Auckland and Wellington.
Papakura and Paraparaumu stops will be added to the timetable to accommodate for the growing populations south of Auckland and north of Wellington.
“Since launching the Northern Explorer service in June, we have received a number of verbal and written requests for these two stops to be added to relieve the frustration of people having to travel into the city centres only to have to travel back out on the train,” says KiwiRail’s General Manager, Passenger, Deborah Hume.
KiwiRail had previously expressed interest in increasing the number of stops on the Northern Explorer service and said the number of people wanting to catch the service from both south Auckland and north Wellington warrants this,”
“Both stops cover a large population catchment, with Paraparaumu incorporating passengers from Waikanae, Kapiti Coast and Otaki, and Papakura encompassing passengers from Middlemore and Pukekohe, and many hotels and motels around Auckland International Airport.
The Papakura and Paraparaumu stops will be introduced on October 15, in time for the summer season.
KiwiRail said they do not anticipate that adding these two stops will have any significant impact on the service’s current timetable and there will be no changes to the fare structure.
The Northern Explorer runs from Auckland on Monday, Thursday and Saturday and from Wellington on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
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