KMR – a Kāpiti based organisation with 40 years of running trains on the Kāpiti Coast is pleased to be announce that it has been chosen by the government as the provider of two brand new rail enabled ferries to replace the ageing Interislander fleet.
In secret negotiations over several months, KMR has agreed to deliver ferries that will be ideally suited for people, freight and the all-important trains.
KMR announced the plans at the regular public events at their Raumati based offices on Sunday – “for a long time KMR has been looking to expand its high successful rail operations into the lucrative Cook Strait Ferry market. It is two years to the day since our announcement to re-open the long-abandoned tunnel linking Kāpiti Island to our rail network – this was met with a hugely positive public reaction. So, we are now expanding our portfolio of transport to provide ferries that will take our specialist locomotives and carriages”.
Whilst designs are still being finalised it appears that these New Zealand designed and built ferries will be delivered for significantly less than bids from overseas shipbuilders; and allow far more rail wagons to be transported between the islands than the existing ships, and, even the two new ones announced yesterday. They plan to build the 200m long ferries in section by turning the abandoned Raumati Swimming Pool into a dry dock and float the segments out onto the beach at King Tides.
The KMR Engineering Manager says that the new KMR rail enabled ferries will need some minor modifications to port infrastructure, but the unique KMR rail solution will easily fit inside the existing KiwiRail track width and height restrictions. The existing 42” wide track (Narrow Gauge) in New Zealand is different from most other railways so we will be changing this to the standard gauge used around the world for similar trains. This is the 185mm gauge has been used by KMR for forty years and has proved ideal.
On the odd occasion that a train comes off the track it can be lifted back on by the driver and a couple of passengers.
Whilst KMR has been at the forefront of introducing fully electric trains on many of its services for many years, it also embraces the use of solid carbon-based fuels (coal and steam). The use of these fossil fuel on the railways is not new and many will welcome the return to locally mined coal rather than relying on importing fuels.
The KMR ferries will have some compromises to stay within the government’s fiscal envelope. Doing away with wharepaku facilities will save millions – people will just need to pay attention and use the facilities at the ports before embarking. Overnight services will not be offered at first as most KMR staff are of an age where they go to bed by 9pm, but as the service expands they expect to provide more sailings.
In an age where New Zealand has slipped behind the world’s best, it is great to see that KMR – or to use its full name Kāpiti Miniature Railway is championing home grown skills to come to the aid of our struggling ferry services. We also hear rumours that KMR is in advanced talks with Kiwi space company Rocket Lab to establish a direct Paraparaumu to Christchurch passenger rocket service. Once again KMR proves it is truly out of this world in making announcements at the start of April.
As a way to celebrate the announcement of KMR taking on the Cook Straight route any passengers who come along to Marine Gardens Raumati wearing a Pirate hat between 12pm and 4pm on Sunday 6th April will receive a free 6 trip ticket.
