Alstom unveils Tūhono train mock-up in New Zealand

Alstom has unveiled a full-size mock-up of the new Tūhono trains in New Zealand to facilitate user testing and design refinement. The life-sized model, built by KiwiRail, is currently being tested at workshops in Lower Hutt.

The mock-up allows passengers, accessibility advocates, and train crews to walk through proposed layouts and test specific features. This feedback process aims to ensure the final design is safe, accessible, and functional before Alstom begins manufacturing 18 five-car, battery-electric trains.

The Tūhono programme is part of the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility (LNIRIM) initiative, led by Greater Wellington in partnership with Horizons Regional Council and the New Zealand Government. The project is intended to provide a generational upgrade to inter-regional rail services connecting Wellington, Wairarapa, and Manawatu.