The Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility Program includes the delivery of:
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18 five-car BEMU trains
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a driving simulator
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a new BEMU maintenance facility at Masterton
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battery charging facilities at Masterton and Palmerston North
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expanded stabling yards at Masterton and Palmerston North
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improved stations and platforms along both routes
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improved operational facilities at Masterton and Palmerston North, and
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passing loop improvements to enable crossing with freight trains.
The new BEMUs will replace the existing diesel locomotive fleet and run on the Wairarapa line between Masterton and Wellington and the Manawatū line between Palmerston North and Wellington. The contract to deliver the rolling stock includes the design, construction and maintenance of the fleet over a 35-year term.
The maintenance facility, station improvements, driving simulator and battery charging faciltiies are being procured for separately to the rolling stock contract.
KiwiRail is also delivering five new substations to accommodate the new trains, in addition to upgrading existing substations. Three of the new substations will be built on the Wairarapa Line and the Hutt Valley Line which connects to the Wairarapa Line, and two on the Kāpiti Line which connects to the Manawatū Line.
Key Dates
| Dec 2023 | ROIs Open |
| Sep 2025 | Contract Award |
| Mar 2029 | Expected Construction Completion |
| Dec 2030 | Expected Operations/Service Commencement |
Funding contributions
| NZ Government | |
|
The project is being co-funded by the Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils. NZ$455 million (A$421 million) is being commited through the 2023 Budget to provide co-funding for Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council to support the dellivery of the programme. NZ$350 million (A$322 million) is being committed through the National Land Transport Programme to progress delivery, including purchase of new trains. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| Shortlist: | Alstom Rail Transportation New Zealand; Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A.; and Stadler Bussnang AG. |
| Successful Tenderer: | Alstom Rail Transportation New Zealand |
| Procurement note: | KiwiRail will be deliver the track infrastructure, stabling and platform upgrades. |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Dec 2019 | An indicative business case for the replacement of the Lower North Island Longer Distance Rolling Stock was published by Greater Wellington Regional Council. |
| May 2020 | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi provided NZ$5 million to Greater Wellington Regional Council to undertake further detailed investigations and prepare a Detailed Business Case and Procurement Strategy. |
| Nov 2020 | Greater Wellington Regional Council commenced an RFP process for the preparation of the Detailed Business Case and capital/operating funding applications, closing 30 November. |
| May 2022 | The Detailed Business Case was published by Greater Wellington Regional Council to the public, outlining the need for an updated rail service to accommodate a growing population in the greater Wellington area. |
| Apr 2023 | The NZ Government made a pre-budget announcement confirming the funding commitment for the program, including the purchase of 18 four-car, tri-mode trains for the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines. |
| Nov 2023 | The Detailed Business Case was approved. |
| Dec 2023 | Greater Wellington Regional Council opened an ROI for the procurement and maintenance of the new fleet of rolling stock, closing 26 January 2024. |
| Jul 2024 | The NZ Government announced a co-funding agreement of NZ$803 million between the Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils. |
| Jul 2024 | Greater Wellington Regional Council announced the shortlist for the design, build and maintenance of the trains over 35 years. |
| Sep 2024 | The National Land Transport Programme 2024-27 was released, allocating NZ$350 million (A$322 million) to the project over the next three years to progress delivery including the purchase of new trains. |
| Sep 2025 | The Greater Wellington Regional Council has awarded Alstom a NZ$1.1 billion (A$1 billion) Design-Build-Maintain contract for delivering and maintaining the new trains for 35 years. KiwiRail has also confirmed it will be delivering five new substations in addition to upgrading existing substations, commencing in late 2025. |
2019/12/02 - Indicative Business Case
National Land Transport Programme 2024-27
2024/07/25 - Co-funding agreement (NZ Government)
2023/04/29 - NZ Government pre-budget commitment
2025/09/08 - Alstom contract award (NZ Government)
2025/09/08 - Alstom contract award (Greater Wellington Regional Council)
2025/09/08 - Alstom contract award (Alstom)
2025/09/09 - Alstom contract award (Ashurst)
2025/09/09 - New and upgraded substations
