Train from Spain on way

The first of Auckland’s new trains is wrapped and ready for shipping this weekend.

The electric train left the Construcciones y Auxillair Ferrocarriles (CAF) factory in Spain last week and is now in transit to the port of Santander.

The ship carrying the train will arrive in Auckland in early September.

Once here the train will be taken from the port to the new $100 mil- lion train maintenance depot at Wiri for checking and certification.

Between September and April the new train, and others as they arrive, will be thoroughly tested and used for driver training before going into operation.

Auckland Transport’s chief executive David Warburton says the first train has been delivered on time.

‘‘These trains will revolutionise public trans- port by rail in Auckland,’’ Mr Warburton says.

‘‘The trains look clean and simple but they are state of the art.’’

The Spanish factory is building a fleet of 57 three-car train sets to carry passengers on the Auckland suburban rail network.

The three-car trains carry up to 375 passengers. All trains are due to be in operation by late 2015.