Better train services on track

Published on September 09, 2025

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden has welcomed news that a contract has been signed to build new trains for the Palmerston North to Wellington rail service. 

The battery-electric trains are scheduled to start arriving in 2029, with a full service operating in 2030. 

That service will include increasing the number of return trips between Palmerston North and Wellington from one to four on weekdays and introducing two return trips on Saturdays and Sundays. 

‘This is wonderful news for our community,’ says Mayor Bernie. 

‘It will offer more choice for commuters and others and make our region even more attractive as a place to work and play. 

‘Our region is growing fast, making frequent and reliable train connections with the capital city increasingly important.’ 

The contract to build the new trains has been awarded to Alstom, which operates around the world and has recently also signed contracts to build trains for America’s Amtrak network and the Mumbai metro in India, as well as control systems for KiwiRail.  

The new service will replace the existing Capital Connection and will be called Tūhono, meaning to connect or to unite. 

‘The new trains will be more comfortable and reliable than the existing diesel-electric service,’ says Mayor Bernie. 

‘And because they’re battery-electric they’ll be better for the environment as well as for commuters. 

‘I can hardly wait to get on board!’