Waikanae is the northern terminal for Kapiti Line commuter trains operated by Transdev Wellington under the Metlink brand operating between Wellington and Porirua or Waikanae. Services are operated by electric multiple units of the FT/FP class. Two diesel-hauled carriage trains, the Capital Connection and the Northern Explorer, pass through the station. The Capital Connection stops at Waikanae but the Northern Explorer does not. Travel times by train are thirty-nine minutes to Porirua and one hour to Wellington for trains that stop at all stations and fifty-seven minutes for express trains that do not stop between Porirua and Wellington. Trains run every twenty minutes during daytime off-peak hours, more frequently during peak periods, and less frequently at night. Before July 2018, off-peak passenger train services between Wellington and Waikanae ran every thirty minutes but were increased to one every twenty minutes from 15 July 2018. Off-peak trains stop at all stations between Wellington and Waikanae. During peak periods, some trains from Wellington that stop at all stations may terminate at Porirua and return to Wellington while a number of peak services run express or non-stop between Wellington and Porirua before stopping at all stations from Porirua to Waikanae. The following Metlink bus routes: 280: Waikanae Beach, 290: Ōtaki Beach, and 285: Kapiti Commuter service to Wellington, serve Waikanae station.
History
The station was opened in 1886, and was on the Wellington-Manawatu Line from Wellington to Longburn built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company and provided both passenger and freight services. The section was opened on 3 November 1886 at Otaihanga. The railway has been part of the North Island Main Trunk since 1908. The Wellington suburban electrified commuter service was extended from Paraparaumu to Waikanae on 20 February 2011. The new service was opened with ceremony on 19 February at Waikanae. Minister of TransportSteven Joyce and Ōtaki MP Nathan Guy drove the last spike. Guy's great-grandfather was chairman of the WMR when the last spike was driven in 1886. The ceremony was marked by protests against the proposed Kapiti Expressway, and Ōtaki-based list MP Darren Hughes was cheered for his opposition to the project in favour of rail investment. The Paraparaumu and Waikanae stations were upgraded at a cost of more than $1 million each in 2010–2011. Upgrading of the original Waikanae station, rather than moving it south of Elizabeth Street or providing a road underpass, was criticized locally on the grounds that frequent closing of the Elizabeth Street levelcrossing south of the station would increase traffic congestion in Waikanae.
Today
The station is currently used by electric commuter trains and a diesel-hauled long distance commuter train, the Capital Connection, that runs between Wellington and Palmerston North. Freight trains also pass by the station. Local bus services originate and terminate at the station.
