Fifteen electric trains are on the way to New Zealand from Spain, where they were built by rail manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) for the Auckland Metro system.
The ocean transportation provider delivering the trains, Höegh Autoliners, says that it was essential for the trains to receive heat treatment before leaving the port “to ensure that stink bugs are not carried to Australia and New Zealand”.
The trains were also stored under deck, ensuring they are protected from seawater and humidity.
The company’s head of sales in Spain, Iñaki Echeverria, also said that no crane lifting in either the load or discharge port was necessary. Due to the length of the trains, this would have been a delicate procedure, but the company’s custom-built rolltrailers are specially designed to enable rail cargo simply be rolled on and off the vessel, making the operation safer and more efficient.
Auckland’s mayor Phil Goff said that the “NZ$133 million investment in new electric trains will help to meet strong growing demand for fast, efficient and reliable public transport across the region.”
The 14 remaining trains will be delivered over the course of the next six months. Auckland Transport expects the remaining trains to reach the city by July next year and will start service in September.