- Capital Connection
Infobox rail line
name = Capital Connection
color =
image_width = 250px
caption =
start = Wellington
end = Palmerston North
stations = 7
type =commuter rail
system =
owner =Tranz Scenic
operator =Tranz Scenic
stock = S Carriages
DX Class locomotives
linelength = 136.23 kmThe Capital Connection is a long-distance commuter train between
Palmerston North andWellington on theNorth Island Main Trunk Railway inNew Zealand . [cite web |url=http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz/services/capitalconnection.aspx |title=Capital Connection: Commuting made easy |accessdate=2007-08-30 |publisher=Tranz Scenic ] It is operated byTranz Scenic . Originally named the Cityrail Express with "Cityrail EXPRESS Palmerston North - Wellington" emblazoned on carriage sides, it started on Monday15 April 1991 .Operator
From 1991 to 2001 the train was operated by CityRail then
Tranz Metro . In 2001, with the partial sale ofTranz Scenic whenTranz Rail sought to separate its commercial passenger rail operations from its subsidised services, it was transferred toTranz Scenic .ervice
The train operates Monday - Friday from Palmerston North to Wellington in the morning, returning in the evening.
Weekend services
On Sunday
19 June 1994 a weekend service from Palmerston North to Wellington and return started. The power/baggage van, catering car and former Masterton car turned 50-seat (alcove-style with tables) day car made up the consist. It attracted minimal patronage and was withdrawn in 1994.Rolling stock and motive power
The service began using standard NZR 56-foot carriages: the first of two power-baggage vans from the Bay Express, a 50-seat Southerner car, a 42-seat Northerner car and a 37-seat Northerner catering car. When the Northerner and Southerner cars were returned to their respective trains and patronage continued to increase a former Masterton commuter car was refurbished to the same standard, with the same 50 alcove-style seats as the Southerner car, but with sheepskin seat covers. Later, a former Endeavour car with luggage space at one end and a former Picton - Greymouth car, both from on the Masterton commuter run, were refurbished for the service. Later still, up to five more Masterton cars, a Northerner car, the second Northerner catering car and the sole InterCity spare buffet car saw service. Before these carriages were replaced, the service was regularly running with a van and eight cars.
British Rail carriages
On Monday
15 November 1999 a new train entered service, made up of eightBritish Rail Mark 2 (ex first, then standard class) cars and the second former Southerner modular 11 kW power and baggage van, with 90 kW generator and larger luggage space made up from the middle and expanded non-handbrake end compartments. The new cars are about three metres longer than the older cars and more spacious inside, with more headroom, full air-conditioning, 60 seats per car (31 in the servery car), and twin power sockets at the foot of each pair of seats. Seating arrangement is both alcove and airline-style, using their British Rail InterCity 72 seats. The train is usually hauled by two DC class locomotives.The carriages have poor brake performance compared with 56-foot A cars using the same triple valve ()Fact|date=July 2007. They have been repainted from Tranz Scenic standard "Cato blue" into dedicated Capital Connection livery.
ee also
*
Tranz Scenic
*Wellington Railway Station
*Tranz Metro ources
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