1980 – the 1975 Hamilton station in the middle distance, the 1909 Frankton Junction being demolished in the foreground. ECMT and NIMT branching to left and right respectively. The pre-1909 station was between the later stations.
An engine shed was built at Hamilton Junction in 1882 and by 1884 there was a 4th class station, platform, cart approach, 60 ft (18 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 38 wagons. A lean-to station building with veranda was added in 1900 and gas lighting in 1910. By 1911 the goods shed had grown to 138 ft (42 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) and there was a crane and fixed signals.[3]
Frankton Junction station consisted of an island platform located on the NIMT just north of the junction between the ECMT and NIMT. It had two signal boxes, and a locomotive depot was located in the Vee of the junction.[4] In 1909 a new, larger station was built to cope with the extra traffic of the through line to Wellington, 16 chains (1,100 ft; 320 m)[5] to the north.[6] The first Auckland - Wellington through expresses ran on 14 February 1909, taking 19 hours 13 minutes, and stopping at Frankton.[7]
Due to the end of steam operation in the North Island in 1968, the depot was closed and a new station, 400 yd (370 m) south of the existing Frankton Junction was tendered for in October 1972. On 6 December 1972 a contract was awarded to Ray Leach Ltd. and by May 1975 the station was nearly complete.[3] It was opened on 6 August 1975, with a side platform on each line. The station was renamed Hamilton at that time and the station formerly with that name, in the town centre, and its associated Road Services terminal in Ward Street, were renamed Hamilton Travel Centre.[3] The listed[8] Frankton South End signal box was relocated to the Hamilton Miniature Engineers' site at Minogue Park,[9] opposite the new Te Rapa loco depot.
In February 2024 an old signals building will become the station building for Te Huia and the Northern Explorer, with a check-in and waiting area, café, toilets, showers and free WiFi.[10]
The scale of past use of the station is indicated by a 1936 report that 3 months' revenue was £7065 for tickets (27,025 sold), £1482 for parcels and £24,143 for goods, including 43,357 sheep, 5,849 cattle and 1,756,450 bd ft (4,144.8 m3) of timber.[11] The 2016 equivalent would be about $15m a year.[12]
Traffic grew steadily, as shown in the graph and table below.
As noted above, the station has had several names. For Te Huia it is called Frankton, to distinguish it from Rotokauri, the other station in Hamilton used by that train to Auckland.[81] Kiwirail uses Hamilton Kirikiriroa Frankton Station, to describe their Northern Explorer train stop.[82]
Servicesedit
In 2009, the canopy over platform 1 (NIMT) was reduced in length. The ECMT carries no passenger services and its platform (platform 2) is used infrequently by excursion trains.
Previous services include the Kaimai Express and Geyserland Express railcars to Tauranga and Rotorua (Koutu) respectively, which were cancelled in 2002, and the overnight Northerner, which ceased operation in 2004 under Toll Rail. The Overlander stopped at the station until 2012, until the Northern Explorer succeeded it.
The Waikato Connection commuter service to Auckland ran in 2000 and 2001.
^"New services added to Te Huia timetable". www.waikatoregion.govt.nz. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
^"REVENUE GOES UP. Railway Business. Frankton And Hamilton. Three Months' Activity (Auckland Star, 1936-07-04)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
^"Inflation calculator – Reserve Bank of New Zealand". www.rbnz.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
^"RETURN No. 9. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1881". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31st March, 1882". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1883". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1884". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1885". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1886". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1887". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1889". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1890". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1891". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1892". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1893". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1894". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1895". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1896". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1897". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1898". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1899". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1900". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1902". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1903". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1904". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1905". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1906". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1907". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1908". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1909". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1910". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1911". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1912". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1913". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1914". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1915". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1916". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1917". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1918". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1919". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1920". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1921". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1922". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1923". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1924". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1925". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1926". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1927". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1928". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1929". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1930". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1931". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1932". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1935". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1936". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1937". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1938". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1939". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1943". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1944". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1945". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
^"Frankton". www.tehuiatrain.co.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^"Hamilton Frankton Railway Station". Great Journeys NZ. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^"SINGLE STAGE BUSINESS CASE HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND START-UP PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE" (PDF). WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL. November 2018.