New Zealand Mk2's

DF 7200 heads away from Wellington with the 17:30 service to Masterton on the 'Wairarapa Connection'- the consist is is 6 re-gauged and heavily re-built British Rail Mk2 coaches. 

Kiwi Rail DFB 7049 stands at Upper Hutt with the 12:25 Wairarapa
Connection train from Wellington to Masterton.

The most 'Mk2 looking' vehicles are the first batch of
conversions, still used to day on the Capital Connection.

I have always maintained that the railway has an insatiable appetite to surprise. Surely one of the most surprising developments in the late 1990's and 2000's was the export of British Railways Mk2 coaches to New Zealand for further mainline use after re-building.
There were three main variants of 'NZ Mk2' which were dealt with in different ways. All involved re-gauging to the NZ 1067mm gauge and some degree of internal and external modification.







The first set of Mk2's to re-enter traffic in New Zealand were classed as 'S class' and entered traffic with minimal modifications (and still very much looking like a Mk2) for the 'Capital Connection' train from Wellington to Palmerston North. The train makes one return trip each day and still runs in 2018 with the Mk2 coaches- poor ridership however could put the future of this operation in doubt.

The 5:15pm Capital Connection gets underway from Wellington to Palmerston North.

The largest batch of coaches went to Auckland for use by Auckland Regional Transport Authority (run by TransDev) who operated suburban services with diesel locomotives. These Mk2's were altered to have double sliding doors at 1/3 and 2/3 positions along the coach side and classified as 'SA Class'. Further vehicles were converted as driving trailers 'SD Class' to enable push-pull operation. The Auckland operation ceased in 2014 having been so successful in re-vitalising commuter rail in the city that widespread electrification became viable and the loco hauled operation was replaced by modern EMU's built by CAF. The coaches are now in store with some earmarked for various projects which may give them further use.

Another rake of  'SW Class' Mk2's wait their departure from Wellington to Masterton behind DFB 7348.

Slide-plug doors, new ribbon glazing and an altered end
profile make the Wellington 'SW Class' Mk2's almost
unrecognizable!

With the end of operations in Auckland the largest daily user of Mk2's in New Zealand is now operated by Kiwi Rails 'Tranz Metro' business in Wellington. Recently the majority of the Wellington commuter network has received new stock from Hyundai Rotem/Mitsui however the non-electrified 'Wairarapa Connection' to Masterton continues to use diesel locomotives and coaches. Mk2's for this service are extensively re-built and classified as 'SW Class'- they feature slide plug doors at the coach ends, new bodyside windows and are totally refurbished internally. A smaller batch of 'SE Class' coaches is also used on the Wairarapa Connection which largely retain their BR interiors. These coaches are hauled by Kiwi Rail DF loco's and run up to six times daily in each direction.

The interior of an 'SW Class' Mk2 on the Wairarapa connection shows what can be done to these elderly vehicles. Barely recognisable as Mk2 internally these coaches are a comfortable way to travel.

An ex-Gatwick Express coach in New Zealand waiting it's
turn for overhaul by the Mainline Steam Trust.

The final user of ex-BR Mk2's is the Mainline Steam Trust which has purchased a number of vehicles for use with their heritage operations in New Zealand following a risk that national operator Kiwi Rail may no longer be able to supply stock for their trips. The coaches are in the process of being overhauled for excursion use.

DFB 7200 powers a Wairarapa train on the non electrified section of the route near Carterton.