Waikanae railway station

The railway is part of the North Island Main Trunk line that connects Wellington and Auckland.

There is also bike parking located by the ticket office building and by the bus shelter.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 (WMR) and provided both passenger and freight services.

To the south, Alexander and Macfarlane, of Whanganui had the last contract to be let, the 10 mi (16 km) Paikakariki and Waikanae section.

The platform was extended in 1897 and the station was improved in 1909, so that by 1911 it had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach, 25 ft (7.6 m) by 12 ft (3.7 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle and sheep yards and a passing loop for 59 wagons (extended in 1940 to 90 wagons).

[12] Minister of Transport Steven Joyce and Ōtaki MP Nathan Guy drove the last spike.

[13] 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.

Upgrading of the original Waikanae station, rather than moving it south of Elizabeth Street or providing a road underpass, was criticised locally on the grounds that frequent closing of the Elizabeth Street level crossing south of the station would increase traffic congestion in Waikanae.

[16] In 1925 a fence of old rails was built to protect the bridge, backed by fifteen old square iron tanks (sent from East Town), filled with river bed stones.