Auckland’s old diesel trains set for new life in Mozambique

Some of Auckland’s old train fleet is getting a new lease of life – in Mozambique.

Eight sets of engine units and carriages, as well as spare parts, are currently on a ship headed for the small African country where they will be used for passenger travel around the capital city of Maputo. The old diesel powered trains became surplus to requirements after Auckland rolled out its new electric train fleet in 2014.

Group Manager AT Metro Operations Brendon Main says it’s great that the old trains will get a new life in a part of the world that needs them.

“By selling the trains it also reduces AT’s costs, as these have been stored in Mount Maunganui since the new electric trains began operating. The diesel trains serviced Auckland well between 1994 and 2014. With the introduction of the new electric fleet the diesel trains were retired from the network, except for the ones which currently operate between Papakura and Pukekohe.

Since the city’s rail network was electrified we’ve seen incredible growth in patronage, we’re nearing 20 million rail trips a year.”

There are 104 SA/SD carriages and 6 SX carriages left in storage at Taumaranui and AT has recently entered into conditional sales agreements for 31 of these. Mr Main says there is also interest in the remaining 79 carriages.

The SA/SD carriages were originally built for British Rail in the early 1970s, then in the mid-1990s they were exported to New Zealand, refurbished and then they began operating on Auckland’s rail system.

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