Arahanga was a roll-on/roll-off train ferry that operated across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton in New Zealand from 1972 until 2001.
History Arahanga was built by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, Glasgow for the New Zealand Railways Department to operate across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton.A Bridge in NZ Network December 1970 page 1 Upper Clyde Shipbuilders went into liquidation during its construction, delaying its completion by 10 months.Arahanga New Zealand Maritime Museum It was the last ship built at the John Brown & Company yard.Cook Strait ferry service started 25 years ago Rails September 1987 page 36 Launched on 27 January 1972, it arrived in Wellington on 22 November 1972 and entered service on 11 December 1972.Ferry Launched Rails February 1972 page 14Third Rail Ferry for New Zealand Railways Network January 1973 page 2Third Vessel for Cook Strait Rail Ferry Service Railway Transportation February 1973 page 5New Rail Ferry Arahanga New Zealand Railway Observer issue 133 Autumn 1973 pages 28/20
It was built as a cargo ferry with four tracks for railway wagons and additional capacity for road trucks. Built to only carry 40 passengers, it was refitted in 1984 to carry 100.Arahanga altered Rails November 1984 page 94 After 32,662 voyages, it was withdrawn on 27 March 2001 and sold to Alang, India for scrapping.
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