# Pukekohe railway station

Pukekohe railway station is a railway station in Pukekohe, New Zealand. It is the southern terminus of the Southern Line of the Auckland railway network.
Pukekohe was 30 mi (48 km) south of Auckland in 1882, or, in 1943, 30 mi 1 ch (48.3 km) via Newmarket, or 32 mi 17 ch (51.8 km) via Ōrākei and 61 m (200 ft) above sea level. In 1913 the station was rebuilt to the south, away from the town centre and it was converted to an island platform in 1941 and rebuilt again from 2016.

## History

The railway from Ōtāhuhu reached West Pukekohe in 1873 and the line opened to Mercer on 20 May 1875, though initially there was no goods service. The station caused the town centre to be refocused along King Street. A rimu and kauri 4th class station and stationmaster's house were built in 1875. In 1875 Pukekohe had two trains a day in each direction taking about 2 hours from Auckland. In 2019 journeys to Auckland took 1hr 11mins, running half hourly. Additions were made in 1878 and 1883, so that by 1884 it also had a cart approach to the platform, a 60 ft (18 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards, weighbridge and urinals. In 1902 the station had an iron roof and contained a ladies' waiting room, public vestibule, railway and postal room, and porter's room. There were four sidings in connection with the station, and the staff consisted of the stationmaster, two cadets, a messenger, and a porter. There was a Post Office at the station from 1883 to 1909, though a conflict between the departments in 1883. Further railway houses were added in 1909, 1911 and 1955.
A wooden section of platform was replaced by bitumen in 1936. In 1978 the platform was 216 m (709 ft) long.
In 1986 the footbridge was shortened and it was proposed to close the station to goods in less than wagon loads and in 1987 tenders were called for removal of the goods shed.
Since 2000, the country town of Pukekohe has been the southern terminus for the Southern Line. However, suburban trains started or terminated at the former terminus at Papakura (18.2 km north of Pukekohe) because network electrification had not extended beyond Papakura at the time. An hourly diesel train shuttle service operated between Pukekohe and Papakura between July 2015 and August 2022, when EMU electric services were inaugurated for Southern Line services.
ADL class DMUs were utilised for the shuttle. The trains were stabled at Pukekohe station and Westfield depot overnight. In December 2014, the SX (minus locomotives) and an ADK sets (both decommissioned from service following the introduction of EMUs on the Auckland network) were relocated to Pukekohe for storage, pending disposal. The stored trains were later relocated to Waitakere and Helensville, and then back to Westfield.
In December 2014, service frequency of the shuttle service was increased to hourly on all days, including weekend services for the first time.
On 12 August 2022, the last train service between Papakura and Pukekohe using DMUs was operated, as the station became closed for redevelopment and conversion to utilise EMUs.

### Upgrades

Until 1912 the station was in a deep cutting and on a heavy grade, but was then moved about 17 ch (0.34 km) south. A new class B station was built in 1913 and part of the old station was used as a goods office.
The 6 mi 11 ch (9.9 km) of track from Paerata, through Pukekohe to Tuakau was doubled from 21 November 1954. Work had started on the doubling in 1938 and the station at Pukekohe converted to an island platform in 1941.

### Patronage

The table and graph below show a slow growth in passenger numbers, with a peak during World War 2. At 269,000, the current numbers far exceed even that 1943 peak of 155,392, but Pukekohe's population has grown from 3,610 in 1947 to 11,676 in 2018. However, there were fewer than 100 passengers a day in 2001, but numbers rose rapidly to over 500 by 2011.
| year | tickets | season tickets | staff | source | title |
| 1881 | 4,637 | | 3 | | |
| 1882 | 5,004 | | 3 | | |
| 1883 | 5,002 | | 3 | | |
| 1884 | 6,469 | | 3 | | |
| 1885 | 5,771 | 31 | 3 | | |
| 1886 | 6,216 | 47 | 3 | | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1886 |
| 1887 | 6,081 | 48 | 3 | | |
| 1888 | 5,107 | 47 | 2 | | |
| 1889 | 5,027 | 27 | 3 | | |
| 1890 | repeats 1889 | | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1890/I/1064 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1890 |
| 1891 | 4,718 | 28 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1891/II/1264 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1891 |
| 1892 | 4,502 | 17 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1892/I/1164 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1892 |
| 1893 | 4,437 | 10 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1893/I/1494 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1893 |
| 1894 | 4,504 | 22 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1894/I/1388 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1894 |
| 1895 | 4,868 | 12 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1895/I/1586 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1895 |
| 1896 | 4,936 | 8 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1896/I/1624 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1896 |
| 1897 | 5,053 | 34 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1897/II/1610 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1897 |
| 1898 | 5,883 | 15 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1898/I/1670 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1898 |
| 1899 | 6,595 | 26 | 4 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1899/I/1824 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1899 |
| 1900 | 7,066 | 40 | 4 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/1612 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1900 |
| 1901 | | | | Pages 30–35 missing | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1901 |
| 1902 | 10,911 | 49 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1902/I/1436 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1902 |
| 1903 | 11,005 | 42 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1903/I/1873 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1903 |
| 1904 | 12,926 | 75 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1904/I/1848 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1904 |
| 1905 | 12,816 | 101 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/3767 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1905 |
| 1906 | 13,507 | 149 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1906/II/1600 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1906 |
| 1907 | 14,953 | 112 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1907/I/2542 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1907 |
| 1908 | 16,033 | 106 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1908/I/2061 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1908 |
| 1909 | 17,086 | 112 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1909/II/1832 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1909 |
| 1910 | 18,504 | 115 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1910/I/2050 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1910 |
| 1911 | 20,325 | 142 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1911/I/2497 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1911 |
| 1912 | 25,667 | 119 | 8 | | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1912 |
| 1913 | 29,578 | 242 | 9 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/3693 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1913 |
| 1914 | 34,928 | 287 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1914/I/2031 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1914 |
| 1915 | 35,057 | 266 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1638 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1915 |
| 1916 | 36,170 | 279 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1053 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1916 |
| 1917 | 34,214 | 301 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1917/I/1123 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1917 |
| 1918 | 33,026 | 265 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1159 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1918 |
| 1919 | 33,510 | 306 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1919/I/1231 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1919 |
| 1920 | 37,080 | 323 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1920/I/1349 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1920 |
| 1921 | 44,162 | 339 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1921/I-II/1452 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1921 |
| 1922 | 43,255 | 465 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1922/I/1409 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1922 |
| 1923 | 39,428 | 272 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1321 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1923 |
| 1924 | 39,467 | 970 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1924/I/2458 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1924 |
| 1925 | 39,773 | 877 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1925/I/1804 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1925 |
| 1926 | 42,195 | 978 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1926/I/1930 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1926 |
| 1927 | 43,655 | 788 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1927/I/2230 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1927 |
| 1928 | 34,624 | 568 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2628 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1928 |
| 1929 | 22,923 | 379 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2090 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1929 |
| 1930 | 19,849 | 252 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2212 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1930 |
| 1931 | 22,822 | 277 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1778 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1931 |
| 1932 | 25,160 | 302 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1934 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1932 |
| 1933 | 37,652 | 289 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1388 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1933 |
| 1934 | 44,401 | 242 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2278 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1934 |
| 1935 | 50,132 | 193 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1326 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1935 |
| 1936 | 52,640 | 259 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1552 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1936 |
| 1937 | 54,282 | 229 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1896 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1937 |
| 1938 | 53,482 | 225 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1652 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1938 |
| 1939 | 50,563 | 219 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1970 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1939 |
| 1940 | 47,008 | 335 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1314 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1940 |
| 1941 | 49,517 | 276 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1203 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1941 |
| 1942 | 62,749 | 315 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/651 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1942 |
| 1943 | 155,392 | 393 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/679 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1943 |
| 1944 | 150,522 | 279 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/895 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1944 |
| 1945 | 74,814 | 316 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/969 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1945 |
| 1946 | 73,727 | 280 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1548 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1946 |
| 1947 | 45,303 | 411 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2495 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1947 |
| 1948 | 42,719 | 577 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2521 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1948 |
| 1949 | 40,548 | 713 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2104 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1949 |
| 1950 | 43,402 | 475 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2366 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1950 |
| 2011 | 1,052 | | | passengers/weekday | |
| 2019 | 269,000 | | | https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2019/09/11/2019-rail-station-boardings/ | |

### Pukekohe Racecourse

Franklin Racecourse station, to the south of Pukekohe, was open from about 1921 to 1955. From 1938 there was a siding at Pukekohe Racecourse and the formation was built up to rail level for about 750 ft (230 m), in place of a platform.

## Services

Auckland One Rail, on behalf of Auckland Transport, operates suburban services to Waitematā. Since 3 February 2025, the basic weekday off-peak timetable is:
* 3 tph to Waitematā, via Ellerslie and Newmarket
Bus routes 391, 392, 393, 394, 396, 398 and 399 serve Pukekohe Station.
From 10 February 2025, Te Huia began to stop at Pukekohe Station.

## Upgrade

In 2011, the Auckland Council agreed to fund an upgrade to the station, along with the construction of a Park and ride facility. In 2014 Auckland Transport announced plans to upgrade Pukekohe station in two stages, with the first stage in 2015 to include a bus interchange and a Park and Ride. The upgrade also included replacement of the wooden sections of platform and a new footbridge and lifts.
Auckland Transport also added a proposal to extend railway electrification to Pukekohe to its 10-year plan.
Electrification of the rail line from Papakura to Pukekohe was announced in 2020; with the upgrade then planned to be completed by 2021 (see also New Zealand Upgrade Programme and Auckland railway electrification).
Electrification work is to commence in 2020 (with three new stations proposed on the route).
To provide space for stabling trains, KiwiRail planned to remove, or demolish, the 1913 station building by November 2021. A 2019 report said that relocating the station would be impractical and could cost almost $2.7m. It has been described as, "one of Pukekohe’s more important heritage buildings". In December 2021, it was announced that the station would be relocated to Matangi for preservation.
On 13 August 2022, KiwiRail began redevelopment of Pukekohe station and the rail line to allow for Auckland Transport's electric trains to travel between Pukekohe and Papakura. Services resumed from Pukekohe on 3 February 2025.

### Bus station

The $15.4 million upgrade, with a new park and ride area, improved bus station facilities and a pedestrian overbridge at the new integrated bus and train station, began construction in July 2017. The 6-bay bus station opened on 6 June 2018.