The 72m-by-8m station was built in 1965, replacing the original wooden structure built in the late 1870s.
The original building was renamed Pukepapa in 1898 and became a flag station for passengers until it closed in 1959.
The building has been closed to the public for several years.
It has not been used as a scheduled stop for the Great Journeys NZ’s Northern Explorer train, but the station’s platform could still be used in an emergency.
Allen said there were no plans to build another structure on the platform.
The station has been vandalised countless times over the years, with smashed windows and graffiti.
Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said it was an understandable decision by KiwiRail to demolish the historic station.
“It was quite a substantial building. It was one of the bigger railway stations on the Main Trunk Line, Marton being the change between the middle point of the lower North Island connections.
“It had fallen into disrepair, it had some asbestos through it, and there had been significant vandalism, so I can understand the reasons for the demolition.”
Police took over the fire investigation from Fire and Emergency NZ shortly after the blaze was extinguished.
They are seeking information from witnesses before following up any further lines of inquiry.
Anyone with information in relation to the fire can contact police through 105, either online or over the phone and quote file number 260104/7062.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
