160 turn out for Napier rail line workers' reunion at Taradale

The Napier-Wairoa railway line at Eskdale. Photo / Warren Buckland

Past and present railway line workers expressed their excitement about the planned reopening of the Napier-Wairoa rail-line when they got together for a well-attended reunion at the weekend.

KiwiRail Ahuriri freight office employee Francis Raihania said about 160 people turned out for the Napier Rail Line Workers' Past and Present Reunion at the Taradale RSA on Saturday.

"There was workers there dating from the 1950. Some of these guys are getting on a bit now so the reunion was a chance to get people together again.

"A lot of them are retired and there are also a lot of them working overseas. Others came from other places in New Zealand."

Mr Raihania said the recent announcement that Napier to Wairoa line would reopen by the end of the year had been well received by those who attended the reunion.

"Obviously people are generally interested in it and so they are very excited about the reopening of the line back to Wairoa.

'There was a huge amount of discussion about it amongst the people here."

Those at the reunion also attended a farewell breakfast yesterday and were presented with souvenir mugs decorated with drawings from railway artist Barry O'Donnell.