New Zealand AK class carriage

New Zealand AK class
Northbound Coastal Pacific about to cross Dublin Street and terminate at Picton.
In service	2 November 2011
Manufacturer	Hillside Engineering
Constructed	2010–2012
Number built	17
Number in service	17
Fleet numbers	AK, AKC (cafe)
Capacity	63 (AK car) 10 (AKC car)
Operator(s)	KiwiRail Scenic Journeys
Depot(s)	Waltham depot (Christchurch), Westfield (Auckland)
Line(s) served	Main North Line, Midland Line North Island Main Trunk
Specifications
Car body construction	19.53 m (64 ft 1 in)
Car length	20.38 m (66 ft 10 in) over couplers
Width	2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Height	3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Doors	Four plug-type doors (AK car)
Weight	AK: 37.4 t (36.8 long tons; 41.2 short tons) AKC: 37.4 t (36.8 long tons; 41.2 short tons)
Train heating	Heating and air conditioning
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

The New Zealand AK class of 17 cars was built in Dunedin's Hillside Workshops for KiwiRail's long-distance passenger operation KiwiRail Scenic Journeys consisting of 11 AK saloon cars and four AKC cafe cars, supplemented by three AKL luggage vans and four AKV open-air viewing/generator vans converted from AG vans, similar to those previously used on the Coastal Pacific and the TranzAlpine.

Two AK, an AKC, an AKL and an AKV entered service on the Coastal Pacific on 2 November 2011.^[1]

The class is used on the Coastal Pacific, the Northern Explorer and the TranzAlpine, replacing panorama 56-foot carriages. Funding of $NZ39.9 million was announced by the fifth National government in March 2009.

The class features a new white livery with the KiwiRail logo.^[2]

Due to passenger loadings falling on both South Island trains as a result of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, three AK, one AKC, one AKL and one AKV have been moved to the North Island for the new three-times-a-week Auckland-Wellington Northern Explorer.

Design

The class was designed by KiwiRail's mechanical design staff in Wellington. It has GPS-triggered announcements, with displays on ceiling-mounted screens and commentary at each seat in five languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Mandarin.^[3] It runs on newly designed air-cushioned P11 bogies.^[4] Seating was supplied by a Wellington-based manufacturer.^[5]

With large panoramic windows and quarter lights in the roof, the area of glass per AK car is 52 m² (560 sq ft). To one side of each seat is a jack for headphones for the on-board commentary, and in front of each seat is a flip-down tray table. Seats facing each other in groups of four are positioned around a fixed table. Power points are provided at each seat area. Carry-on baggage can be stored overhead.

Class register

Northern Explorer AK and AKV cars at Wellington

The interior of an AK

Seating in an AK

The class include the following sub-types: AK saloon car and AKC licensed café car, supplemented by AKL luggage van and AKV outdoor observation/generator car.^[6]

Type	Number	Entered service	Allocation
AK	2018	2 November 2011	North Island
AK	2024	2 November 2011	North Island
AK	2030	1 June 2012	South Island
AK	2047	11 February 2012	North Island
AK	2053	18 May 2012	South Island
AK	2076	18 May 2012	South Island
AK	2082	29 November 2012	North Island
AK	2099	8 November 2012	South Island
AK	2116	26 November 2012	South Island
AK	2122	26 November 2012	South Island
AK	2139	27 November 2012	South Island
AK	2145	5 February 2013	South Island
AKC	2511	2 November 2011	North Island
AKC	2524	18 May 2012	South Island
AKC	2537	26 November 2012	South Island
AKC	2552	December 2012	South Island
AKL	19	2 November 2011	North Island
AKL	21	18 May 2012	South Island
AKL	39	26 December 2012	South Island
AKV	13	2 November 2011	South Island
AKV	26	21 April 2012	South Island
AKV	39	7 November 2012	South Island
AKV	41	5 February 2013	North Island

AK 2151 was planned, but built as AKC 2552. AK 2168 was planned, but not built.

References

↑ Palmer, Kloe (3 November 2011). "New carriages debut on South-Island's rails". Christchurch: 3 News. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
↑ "AK1 External". Flickr user 'Wekapass' – accessed 27 March 2011.
↑ "Hillside Engineering unveils work in progress". Otago Daily Times. 18 May 2010.
↑ "KiwiRail chooses motovated for new bogie". Scoop News – accessed 29 March 2011.
↑ RUTHERFORD, HAMISH (25 July 2011). "Rail contract boom for Lower Hutt firm". The Dominion Post (Fairfax New Zealand). Retrieved 25 July 2011.
↑ SINCLAIR, ROY (13 December 2011). "World-class scenic transport". The Press (Christchurch: Fairfax New Zealand). Retrieved 13 December 2011.

External links

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