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Story: Public transport

Electric train

Video file

Electric units were introduced on Wellington's commuter lines from 1938. Compared with steam trains, they were clean and comfortable, as this documentary explains.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 28. National Film Unit, 1954

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Adrian Humphris, Public transport – Trains, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/22525/electric-train (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 12 April 2010.