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Old Auckland trains bound for Africa

Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Taumarunui
Taumarunui's rail yards look busier than they actually are.

Old Auckland Transport trains gathering dust in Taumarunui are being shunted off to Africa.

Eight carriages, eight engines and spare parts have already been shipped out for use in Mozambique's capital city of Maputo.

Trains are lined up side by side.
Trains are lined up side by side.

Another 31 carriages were the subject of a conditional sale agreement and there is also interest in the remaining 79 carriages and engines currently stored in Taumarunui, Auckland Transport communications advisor James Ireland said.

The initial eight trains and spare parts would be used for passenger travel around the capital city of Maputo.

The trains have been parked up alongside the Taumarunui Railway Station for three years.
The trains have been parked up alongside the Taumarunui Railway Station for three years.

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Some of the stored trains have graffiti on them. They are now monitored around the clock by a security firm.
Some of the stored trains have graffiti on them. They are now monitored around the clock by a security firm.

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Taumarunui has more than 100 train carriages stored in the shunting yard.
Taumarunui has more than 100 train carriages stored in the shunting yard.

'They are on the boat on their way to Mozambique.'

Mozambique's rail lines are the same gauge as New Zealand's, unlike many lines around the world which are wider.

A surplus train cariage is swung onto a boat bound for Africa.
A surplus train cariage is swung onto a boat bound for Africa.

'Quite a lot of Africa is the same as us and I believe that's based on what they run in England.' 

About 110 carriages and engines have been in storage in Taumarunui since 2014 after being replaced by electric trains.

Auckland Transport has been using King Country Security to monitor the trains around the clock yet many have been tagged with graffiti. Ireland said the graffiti would be removed, if stipulated in the various sale agreements.

He could not say if the trains were all going to the same buyer.

The trains were built in England and were used in Australia before coming to New Zealand.

'These are the old diesel trains we refurbished in the nineties.

'There was space in Taumarunui and it was fairly accessible and as soon as we took them off the Auckland line we started the process of selling them.'