Takaanini railway station

Takaanini
View of the station from the temporary pedestrian overbridge, 2026.
General information
Other namesTakanini
LocationTakanini, Auckland
New Zealand
Coordinates37°02′27″S 174°55′09″E / 37.0409°S 174.9191°E / -37.0409; 174.9191
SystemAuckland Transport Urban rail
OwnerKiwiRail (track and platforms)
Auckland Transport (buildings)
OperatorAuckland One Rail
LineNorth Island Main Trunk
Distance650.64 km (404.29 mi) from Wellington[1]
PlatformsIsland platform (P1 & P2)
TracksMainline (2)
Construction
ParkingYes
Cycle facilities
Yes
AccessibleNo
Other information
Fare zoneSouthern Manukau
History
OpenedOctober 1913[2]
Electrified2014[3]
Passengers
20111,062 passengers/weekday[4]
Services
Preceding station Auckland Transport
(Auckland One Rail)		 Following station
Te Mahia
towards Waitematā
 Southern Line Papakura
towards Pukekohe
Adjacent stations
Preceding station   KiwiRail   Following station
Te Mahia   North Island Main Trunk   Tironui
Closed 1983
Location

Takaanini railway station, officially spelt Takanini,[5] is on the Southern Line of the Auckland railway network in New Zealand. The station has an island platform layout and is accessed from Manuroa Road, Station Road and Taka Street in the Takanini suburb of Auckland.

History

The station in 1950.

The railway through Takaanini was opened on 20 May 1875, as part of the Auckland and Mercer Railway, built by Brogden & Co, who extended it from Penrose.[6][7][8][9] Steam trains would stop to take on water near the Papakura river between today’s Te Mahia and Takaanini stations.[10] On 6 November 1908 the line became part of the North Island Main Trunk, with services reaching Wellington.[11][12][13]

On 25 June 1913 a station at a place known as Lupton's Crossing, at 16 miles 73 chains, was approved.[14][15] It was originally intended to call the station 'Glenora' after the nearby historic estate of Glenora Park.[16][17] The station was opened in October 1913 as the Takanini railway station.[2][16] Land for the station was donated by locals.[10] In 1914 the Maru Land Company subdivided the 'Town of Takanini' around the station.[5]

On 16 April 1915, a Post Office operated by Railways Department staff opened; it was removed from the station on 14 January 1920. In 1923 a proposal to add a ladies waiting room (12' x 10') with toilet (about 8' x 10') was approved. By this point the station building consisted of a store (12' x 10'), tablet room (15' x 10'), and public lobby (18' x 10').[14]

On 6 August 1923 a proposal to add a goods shed was approved. Later a 20' x 30' shed was built.[14]

Duplication of the tracks between Papatoetoe and Papakura started in 1929 as an employment relief scheme[18] On 29 March 1931 the second track between Papatoetoe and Papakura opened.[7] In 1931 a wooden footbridge with three sets of stairs connecting the island platform with Maru Road and Station Road was constructed (Bridge No 340 NIMT.)[14]

The name of the station has long been controversial. In 1930, at the request of the Akarana Maori Association, the Honorary Geographic Advisory Board recommended changing the spelling of the station to Takaanini. This decision was gazetted as official in 1948. However, the use of Takanini remained almost universal, and in 1950 became the official spelling once more.[5][16]

Taka Street level crossing, 1957.

On 3 October 1952 a proposal to install warning signals at the Lupton's Road (renamed to Spartan Road in 1972), Manuroa Road, and Taka Road level crossings, estimated cost £3500, was approved.[14][19]

In 1955 the goods shed was removed to Avondale. In 1966 the low-level loading bank was removed. Goods services were closed on 29 April 1980, with all redundant trackwork to be removed.[2][14]

In 1970 the station building (built in 1914) was demolished. By 1977 A two metre high pipe and mesh fence had been erected to prevent illegal access across the track.[14]

In 1993 New Zealand’s rail system was sold to a private consortium which formed Tranz Rail. In 2001 the Labour-led government repurchased Auckland’s suburban rail system.[20]

Second-hand diesel multiple units were introduced in 1993, purchased for the Auckland rail system from Perth in 1993. Nearly all stations were modified to accommodate the lack of external steps. The platforms at Takanini station were raised.[21]

Small shelters and Takanini signage on the platform, 2014.

Two of the small shelters formerly used at the temporary Newmarket stations were relocated to Takanini station in 2010.[22] In July 2013 the old shelter was demolished, then later an additional four small shelters were built.[23] The small shelters were subsequently replaced by a large steel-frame glass-sided shelter built in 2018.[24]

The line through the station was electrified in 2014.[3]

On 19 October 2018, Auckland Transport changed the station's signage to Takaanini in line with Auckland Council's Māori language policy to reflect the correct spelling of Ihaka Takaanini after whom the area is named.[25] Auckland Transport supported a proposal to officially alter the name to Takaanini but this proposal was rejected and the official name remains Takanini.[5][26][27]

In 2019 a park and ride facility with more than 280 spaces was built next to the station.[28]

Temporary pedestrian bridge, 2026.

On 29 January 2026 the station level crossings were closed, replaced by a scaffolding bridge with two sets of stairs providing access to the platform from the carpark. A 2.5m wide concrete pedestrian bridge with 3 sets of stairs and 3 elevators (each with capacity for 26 people) is being constructed at the station. The design allows for the fourth tracking of the southern rail line. Construction commenced in September 2025 and is due for completion in mid-2026.[29][30]

Services

Auckland One Rail, on behalf of Auckland Transport, operates suburban services between Waitematā and Pukekohe via Takaanini. Since 3 February 2025, the basic weekday off-peak timetable is:[31]

Bus routes 364 and 365 serve Takaanini Station and bus route 33 passes close by on Great South Road.[32]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Railway Infrastructure Information (PDF) (Report). KiwiRail. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 Auckland Electrification Map (PDF) (Map). KiwiRail. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Rail Electrification Extension (PDF). Agenda Item 10(i) (Report). Auckland Transport. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Place name detail: Takanini Railway Station". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "20 May 1875". Manukau's Journey. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 Geographical Mileage Table 1957 (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Railways. 1958. p. 2. OCLC 152429779.
  8. ↑ "Opening of the Auckland and Mercer Railway for Traffic". Auckland Star. 20 May 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Districts Opened by the Railway - Appearance of the Country". Auckland Star. 20 May 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  10. 1 2 Finlay, Rob. "Tracks and stations (part 6): three Ts north of Papakura - Tironui, Takaanini, Te Mahia" (PDF). The Papakura Sentinel. No. 50, December 2020/January 2021. Papakura & District Historical Society. pp. 3–7. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Main trunk line". Auckland Star. Vol. XXXIX, no. 268. 9 November 1908. p. 5.
  12. ↑ "The Main Trunk trip". New Zealand Herald. Vol. XLV, no. 13904. 11 November 1908. p. 7.
  13. ↑ Atkinson, Neill (6 April 2010). "Railways – Main trunk lines". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Scoble, Juliet. "Station Archive". Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Railway Facilities". New Zealand Herald. Vol. L, no. 15193. 6 January 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 "1 November 1913". Manukau's Journey. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "A New Station". Pukekohe & Waiuku Times. Vol. 2, no. 114. 29 July 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Fulfilling the Government's Promise". Auckland Star. Vol. LX, no. 241. 11 October 1929. p. 8. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "Spartan Road". Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  20. ↑ Atkinson, Neill (6 April 2010). "Railways – Rail transformed". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Bollard, Richard; Petry, Bruce. Auckland Metro Rail Network Electrification Heritage Assessment (PDF) (Report). Salmond Reed Architects Limited.
  22. ↑ "nzrailphotos.co.nz Search results: Takanini", 1980201835-Takanini-shelters, 28 January 2010, retrieved 25 June 2026, The shelters from Newmarket's now demolished temporary stations are being reused at minor stations, including Takanini
  23. ↑ Henry, Dubby (17 July 2013). "Commuters get apology over shelter". Stuff. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Te Mahia and Takanini Station Upgrades". Traction Room. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Earley, Melanie (18 October 2018). "Takanini or Takaanini? Auckland Transport's new sign leaves commuters confused". Stuff. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  26. ↑ "Place name proposal - Takaanini Railway Station". Land Information New Zealand. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  27. ↑ Submissions considered by the Board on 15 October 2024 for: Takaanini (suburb) [altered from Takanini (locality)], Takaanini Railway Station [altered from Takanini Railway Station] (PDF). Board hui 15 October 2024, Objective ID: A6590770 (Report). New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "Takaanini Station park and ride opens". Our Auckland. Auckland Council. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Takaanini Station pedestrian bridge". Auckland Transport. 6 May 2026. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Level Crossings Programme". Auckland Transport. 28 May 2026. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  31. ↑ "Pukekohe, Papakura to Waitematā - Southern Train Timetable" (PDF). Auckland Transport. 14 June 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  32. ↑ "Southern Guide" (PDF). Auckland Transport. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
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