The Strand Station

The Strand Station
The Strand Station and stabling facility
Coordinates	36°50′55″S 174°46′46″E / 36.848648°S 174.779542°E / -36.848648; 174.779542
Platforms	2 islands (from the original station's 7)
Construction
Parking	Yes
History
Opened	1930
Closed	July 2003
Rebuilt	August 2011
Electrified	Yes
Services
Preceding station   The Great Journeys of New Zealand   Following station Terminus Northern Explorer Papakura toward Wellington
Heritage New Zealand – Category I
Designated	29-Nov-1985
Reference no.	93

hide v t The Strand Station
Legend
Britomart Eastern Line and North Island Main Trunk The Strand Station Quay Park junction Newmarket Line, Onehunga Line, Southern Line, Western Line

The Strand Station, also referred to as Auckland Strand Station, is a railway station located on the eastern edge of the Auckland CBD. It serves as the long-distance railway station for Auckland. It is the northern terminus of the Northern Explorer service between Auckland and Wellington, operated by The Great Journeys of New Zealand^[1] and became the northern terminus for Te Huia on Saturdays from July 24 2021.^[2] Suburban services are not scheduled to pass through the station, however, it serves as a backup for Britomart Transport Centre during times of disruption.

The platforms were formerly part of the Auckland Railway Station complex which was opened in 1930 on Beach Road, replacing the previous railway terminus which was on the Queen Street site where Britomart now stands. The 1930 station was the third to serve as the rail terminus for Auckland, and remained the sole station serving the CBD until its closure in July 2003, when Britomart became the new terminus. The original Platform 7 (now referred to as Platform 1) was retained for limited use as 'The Strand Station', named after the adjacent street. It continued to be used by a limited number of peak-hour suburban trains for a few months following the opening of Britomart. After this, the sole used platform served as a limited-use station for excursions and charters, though it and the other abandoned platforms fell into a state of disrepair. In August 2011, the original Platform 7 and Platform 6 (now referred to as Platform 2) were redeveloped and officially reopened for potential use during Rugby World Cup 2011, although they were never used for that purpose.^[3] These platforms have been used for Northern Explorer services from December 2015 onwards.

History[]

Auckland Railway Station[]

Refurbishment[]

The Strand Station prior to electrification.

The Strand Station following electrification

Between 2003 and 2011, the platforms had deteriorated into a decrepit state. All of the platforms had been shortened for the Britomart Curve, sections of removed track were stacked up on top of each other adjacent to the platforms, and grass and weeds covered most of the site.

In 2011, two platforms were upgraded by Auckland Transport to prepare them for use as an alternative to Britomart for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.^[4] In a $1.7 million project, the canopies were removed from two platforms, with a small section left behind for historic purposes, and the canopies on the other platforms were also left standing due to their heritage value. The platforms were resurfaced, and amenities such as lighting and a public address system were installed.^[3] The platforms did not end up being used during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but they continued to serve as a potential backup station for Britomart during disruptions.

During 2013, stabling facilities were constructed in the disused part of the station, to the north of the refurbished platforms. The stabling yard, officially called the Strand Distributed Stabling Facility, is designed to hold trains when they are not in service. In 2014, the station was fully electrified as part of Auckland's railway electrification project. In December 2015, the station became the terminus of Auckland's sole long-distance passenger train service, the Northern Explorer which runs between Auckland and Wellington, following the shift of its Auckland terminus from Britomart. As the Northern Explorer had become the only diesel service still using Britomart, its operator KiwiRail was requested by Auckland Transport to fund an upgrade to the diesel extraction fans at the underground station, but KiwiRail decided it would be more cost-efficient to cease serving Britomart and move the Northern Explorer terminus to The Strand instead.^{[citation needed]}

Current use[]

The Strand Station is currently served by the thrice-weekly Northern Explorer long-distance service to Wellington.^[1] It is occasionally used for excursion trains and is also available as a backup station for Britomart in case of disruptions. Since electrification, part of the station has been used as a stabling facility. Platform 8 restaurant occupies the foyer of the 1930 station.^[5]

Strand Station, Auckland, in 2019 showing the section of the concrete canopy, which escaped demolition in 2011

Te Huia extends to The Strand on Saturdays from July 24 2021. It may extend to The Strand during weekdays in 2024 provided the Third Main Line project is sufficiently advanced. It may also run on Sundays and public holidays after year 4 or 5; once track access in the Auckland area is not required on Sundays for key rail projects.^[6]

Future[]

Some groups and campaigners have suggested that the station could be utilised for future long-distance passenger services such as the re-instated Te Huia to Hamilton, in order to circumvent the issue of the lack of capacity for long-distance services at Britomart.^[7] The Northern Explorer is hauled by diesel locomotives and can no longer enter Britomart station because the ventilation system for diesel locomotives has been removed.

Photo taken from the sole used Strand Station platform prior to refurbishment. To the left are the then disused Auckland Railway Station platforms. The closest platform to the left is now Platform 2 of the Strand. Both Platform 1 & 2 have had the majority of the historic concrete canopies demolished as part of the 2011 refurbishment.

See also[]

• List of Auckland railway stations
• Auckland Railway Station
• Britomart Transport Centre

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auckland Railway Station.

• Auckland's new Railway Station (1927 article in NZR magazine)
• "Progress of Auckland's new Railway Station (photo)". The New Zealand Herald (Papers Past). 14 July 1926.
• Photographs of Auckland Railway Station held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.
• 1928 photo of Breakwater Rd goods shed about to open.