Peter Dunne welcomes new Matangi Trains on Johnsonville line
19 March 2012

Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne has welcomed the arrival of the Matangi trains on the Johnsonville line, making it the first all-Matangi line in the Wellington suburban network. Mr Dunne, who has been campaigning for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line since 1984, says today’s launch was the culmination of a long, community campaign, and was a great day for everyone involved.

“There have been many times over the years when the future of the Johnsonville line has looked grim and uncertain, and where there were almost constant threats that the line would be closed down.

“It is only a few years ago that the then Wellington City Council wanted to close the line down, and turn it into a busway, and I remember then having to intervene with the then Minister of Finance to prevent that from happening. Today’s arrival of the Matangi trains could not be more far away from those dark days less than five years ago,” he says.

Mr Dunne says today’s launch was also an occasion to remember the old English Electric units that had been the line’s mainstay since its electrification in 1938.

“I well remember being told in 1984 as a new MP that they units were being refurbished, to give them another 8-10 years in service – well, they have bettered that almost threefold,” he says.

Mr Dunne says Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, but that the new Matangi trains along with the recent upgrades to the line, will secure the service to commuters for another 40 years.

“This is a great for the Johnsonville line and its users, and for public transport across the Wellington network” said Mr Dunne.