The Greater Wellington Regional Council has awarded Alstom a more than $1 million NZD contract for the design, manufacture and supply of 18 Adessia Stream B battery-electric multiple unit 5-car trains and 35 years of FlexCare Perform fleet maintenance.
The trains, the first BEMU commuter trains operating in New Zealand, will enable emission-free operations on non-electrified segments of the Wellington rail network: the Wairarapa and Manawatu lines.
Manufactured at Alstom’s Savli manufacturing facility in India, the fleet will replace the current diesel locomotive-hauled trains, which are due for retirement in 2028 and 2029. Alstom will operate a maintenance facility purpose-built by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in Masterton, equipped with technologies for fleet maintenance and battery servicing.
Carrying a maximum of 475 passengers per train and operating at speeds up to 120kph, the trains are
based on Alstom’s globally proven Adessia commuter trains platform, and will be adapted to meet the
distinct needs of Wellington’s operating environment. A comfort-centric passenger experience will be
at the heart of the new trains equipped with wheelchair, bike, luggage and pram amenities onboard
with toilet, vending machine and water dispenser facilities.
Named ‘Tūhono,’ meaning “to connect” or “to unite,” the train livery will feature Te ao Māori and
cultural elements relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand. These designs will be led by Māori design agency
Indigenous Design and Innovation, ensuring deep cultural resonance and a lasting community legacy.
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