Hamilton railway station, New Zealand explained

Hamilton
Address:	Fraser Street, Hamilton^[1]
Country:	New Zealand
Line:	North Island Main Trunk
Other:	East Coast Main Trunk (goods only)
Platform:	2
Parking:	Yes
Opened:	19 December 1877^[2]
Rebuilt:	1975
Electrified:	25 kV 50 Hz AC June 1988
Owned:	KiwiRail
Former:	Hamilton, Hamilton Junction (20 October 1879 – 1 October 1884), Frankton Junction (1884–1955), Frankton (1955-20/7/1975)

Hamilton railway station serves the city of Hamilton in the Waikato region of New Zealand. It is located in the suburb of Frankton, hence the station's former name Frankton Junction, its name for most of its existence. The station is a Keilbahnhof, located at the junction of the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) and East Coast Main Trunk (ECMT) lines. The station is served by the regional Te Huia service, which runs to Auckland via Rotokauri Transport Hub and Huntly railway station twice daily in the morning, with return services in the evening and by the 6-days a week, Northern Explorer passenger service, between Auckland and Wellington.

History

An engine shed was built at Hamilton Junction in 1882 and by 1884 there was a 4th class station, platform, cart approach, 60feet x 30feet goods shed, loading bank, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 38 wagons. A lean-to station building with veranda was added in 1900 and gas lighting in 1910. By 1911 the goods shed had grown to 138feet x 30feet and there was a crane and fixed signals.^[3]

Frankton Junction station consisted of an island platform located on the NIMT just north of the junction between the ECMT and NIMT. It had two signal boxes, and a locomotive depot was located in the Vee of the junction.^[4] In 1909 a new, larger station was built to cope with the extra traffic of the through line to Wellington, ^[5] to the north.^[6] The first Auckland - Wellington through expresses ran on 14 February 1909, taking 19 hours 13 minutes, and stopping at Frankton.^[7]

Due to the end of steam operation in the North Island in 1968, the depot was closed and a new station, 400yd south of the existing Frankton Junction was tendered for in October 1972. On 6 December 1972 a contract was awarded to Ray Leach Ltd. and by May 1975 the station was nearly complete. It was opened on 6 August 1975, with a side platform on each line. The station was renamed Hamilton at that time and the station formerly with that name, in the town centre, and its associated Road Services terminal in Ward Street, were renamed Hamilton Travel Centre. The listed^[8] Frankton South End signal box was relocated to the Hamilton Miniature Engineers' site at Minogue Park,^[9] opposite the new Te Rapa loco depot.

The station was important in the growth of Hamilton and historically the trains calling included The Overlander, Blue Streak, Scenic Daylight, Daylight Limited, Northerner, Silver Star, Night Limited, Waikato Connection, Rotorua Express, Geyserland Express, Thames Express, Taneatua Express and Kaimai Express.

The scale of past use of the station is indicated by a 1936 report that 3 months' revenue was £7065 for tickets (27,025 sold), £1482 for parcels and £24,143 for goods, including 43,357 sheep, 5,849 cattle and of timber.^[10] The 2016 equivalent would be about $15m a year.^[11] Traffic grew steadily, as shown in the graph and table below.

year	tickets	season tickets	staff	ref.
1881			1	^[12]
1882	5,883		1	^[13]
1883	6,039		1	^[14]
1884	7,475		1	^[15]
1885	5,809		1	^[16]
1886	3,634		2	^[17]
1887	4,648	2	3	^[18]
1888	1,719		1
1889	2,077		2	^[19]
1890				^[20]
1891	1,810		2	^[21]
1892	2,178		3	^[22]
1893	2,271		3	^[23]
1894	2,758		3	^[24]
1895	3,735		3	^[25]
1896	3,505		4	^[26]
1897	3,934		6	^[27]
1898	5,188		7	^[28]
1899	5,147		7	^[29]
1900	5,715		8	^[30]
1901
1902	11,264	3	9	^[31]
1903	19,530	3	13	^[32]
1904	31,845	55	12	^[33]
1905	30,678	56	12	^[34]
1906	24,555	58	16	^[35]
1907	19,420	83	18	^[36]
1908	21,098	124	20	^[37]
1909	24,684	48	26	^[38]
1910	31,830	63	33	^[39]
1911	41,659	116	43	^[40]
1912	57,009	204	48	^[41]
1913	79,655	235	57	^[42]
1914	80,769	313		^[43]
1915	75,594	335		^[44]
1916	83,163	266		^[45]
1917	88,855	194		^[46]
1918	84,129	89		^[47]
1919	89,672	87		^[48]
1920	105,146	127		^[49]
1921	127,034	98		^[50]
1922	130,403	90		^[51]
1923	121,334	86		^[52]
1924	121,751	73		^[53]
1925	123,021	55		^[54]
1926	119,312	92		^[55]
1927	116,451	331		^[56]
1928	101,809	254		^[57]
1929	96,565	181		^[58]
1930	82,596	342		^[59]
1931	96,979	142		^[60]
1932	85,485	129		^[61]
1933	91,795	66		^[62]
1934	98,184	74		^[63]
1935	99,678	113		^[64]
1936	102,403	57		^[65]
1937	111,915	133		^[66]
1938	110,555	575		^[67]
1939	105,799	102		^[68]
1940	109,174	92		^[69]
1941	119,493	87		^[70]
1942	140,779	93		^[71]
1943	206,437	42		^[72]
1944	212,403	54		^[73]
1945	171,103	18		^[74]
1946	169,589	74		^[75]
1947	124,930	128		^[76]
1948	100,369	181		^[77]
1949	91,446	47		^[78]
1950	91,360	33		^[79]

Name

As noted above, the station has had several names. For Te Huia it is called Frankton, to distinguish it from Rotokauri, the other station in Hamilton used by that train to Auckland.^[80] Kiwirail uses Hamilton Kirikiriroa Frankton Station, to describe their Northern Explorer train stop.^[81]

Services

In 2009, the canopy over platform 1 (NIMT) was reduced in length. The ECMT carries no passenger services and its platform (platform 2) is used infrequently by excursion trains.

The station is currently served by the Te Huia service to Auckland Strand station using refurbished SA and SD coaches.^[82] Previous services include the Kaimai Express and Geyserland Express railcars to Tauranga and Rotorua (Koutu) respectively, which were cancelled in 2002, and the overnight Northerner, which ceased operation in 2004 under Toll Rail. The Overlander stopped at the station until 2012, until the Northern Explorer succeeded it.

The Waikato Connection commuter service to Auckland ran in 2000 and 2001.

External links

• 1:50,000 map
• Hamilton station on Google Street View
• 1890s photo of station and staff
• Hamilton Libraries photos of station
• 1915 view of railway yards and station
• 1927 photos of refreshment rooms
• Te Ara Encyclopedia – photo of a crowded platform in the 1930s
• NZ Railways Magazine 1 December 1934 – Frankton yesterday and today
• NZ Railways Magazine 1 June 1937 bus advert showing bus connections from station yard
• Hamilton Libraries – refreshment room breakfast menu
• 1952 photo of signal box and station
• 1975 photo of part of Frankton Junction
• 1982 photo of station and level crossing

Notes and References

1. http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/our-stations / KiwiRail Scenic Journeys – our stations
2. Web site: Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand . 28 September 2015 . 24 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200724032358/http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf . dead .
3. Web site: Scoble . Juliet . Station Archive . Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
4. Web site: Map of Hamilton Borough 1927. Hamilton. 4 May 2018.
5. News: Frankton Junction.. 2 June 1909. Auckland Star. 4 May 2018. 5.
6. Web site: Proposed siding additions for Frankton Junction railway station. Nov 1903. Hamilton. 4 May 2018.
7. Web site: 15 Feb 1909. RIGHT THROUGH. WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND. EVENING POST. 2021-04-17. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
8. Web site: Signal Box. www.heritage.org.nz. en-nz. 4 May 2018.
9. News: Big boys' rail toys. Cann. Ged. NZ Herald. 4 May 2018. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
10. Web site: REVENUE GOES UP. Railway Business. Frankton And Hamilton. Three Months' Activity (Auckland Star, 1936-07-04). paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand. 3 November 2016.
11. Web site: Inflation calculator – Reserve Bank of New Zealand. www.rbnz.govt.nz. 3 November 2016.
12. Web site: RETURN No. 9. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1881. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. en. 29 May 2017.
13. Web site: RETURN No. 10. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1882. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
14. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1883. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
15. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1884. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
16. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1885. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
17. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1886. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
18. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1887. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
19. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1889. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
20. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1890. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
21. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1891. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
22. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1892. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
23. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1893. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
24. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1894. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
25. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1895. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
26. Web site: RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1896. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
27. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1897. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
28. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1898. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
29. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1899. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
30. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1900. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
31. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1902. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
32. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1903. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
33. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1904. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
34. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1905. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
35. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1906. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
36. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1907. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
37. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
38. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1909. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
39. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1910. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
40. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1911. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
41. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1912. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
42. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1913. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
43. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1914. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
44. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1915. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
45. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1916. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
46. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1917. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
47. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1918. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
48. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1919. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
49. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1920. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
50. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1921. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
51. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1922. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
52. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1923. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
53. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1924. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
54. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1925. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
55. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1926. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
56. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1927. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
57. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1928. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
58. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1929. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
59. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1930. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
60. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1931. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
61. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1932. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
62. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
63. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
64. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1935. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
65. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1936. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
66. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1937. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
67. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1938. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
68. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1939. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
69. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
70. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
71. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
72. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1943. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
73. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1944. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
74. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1945. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
75. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
76. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
77. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
78. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
79. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. en. 29 May 2017.
80. Web site: Frankton . 2024-02-12 . www.tehuiatrain.co.nz.
81. Web site: Hamilton Frankton Railway Station . 2024-02-12 . Great Journeys NZ . en.
82. Web site: November 2018. SINGLE STAGE BUSINESS CASE HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND START-UP PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE. WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL. 18 February 2019. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111214514/https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/transport/Documents/Single%20Stage%20BC%20Report%20FINAL-web.pdf. dead.