KiwiRail teams will be returning to the Western Line this month to complete Rail Network Rebuild work– requiring a change in train timetables.
KiwiRail will be working at numerous sites between Newmarket and New Lynn between 10 March and early May.
Between 11 March and 24 April, trains will only be able to run on one of the two tracks while the other is being worked on. Over this period trains will run on a revised schedule – every 20 minutes throughout the day and every 30 minutes in the evening.
“The Rail Network Rebuild is crucial work to get Auckland’s rail network up to standard ahead of the opening of the City Rail Link (CRL). Not only is it removing the need for heat and Temporary Speed Restrictions, which slow down commuter trains now, it is also necessary to allow the more frequent trains across the city that will come with CRL,” KiwiRail Chief Asset Development Officer David Gordon says.
“We have made excellent progress upgrading the Western Line to New Lynn since work began on Labour Weekend. Over the Christmas network-wide shut down, when trains weren’t running, we are able to get much of the most invasive work done. This was focused on digging down and replacing the aging track foundations around Mt Albert Station, and around the suburbs of Morningside, Kingsland and Grafton.
“We now need to finish the job. From 10 March we will return to the Western Line to complete drainage improvement work, replace ballast (the stones the tracks sit in) and replace any sleepers and rail as required. This will include some work during the day, and a lot of work at nights and on many weekends.
“In previous Rail Network Rebuild stages we have had to close sections of the network for months at a time. We have been able to avoid this high level of disruption for the Western Line work, but we do appreciate that reduced services are an inconvenience for commuters.”
Stacey Van Der Putten, AT’s Director Public Transport and Active Modes, says the Rail Network Rebuild work is essential for the Western Line but does mean trains will not be as frequent while work is underway.
“Our teams at Auckland Transport have worked closely with KiwiRail and our rail operator, Auckland One Rail, to make sure trains can continue to operate on the Western Line while this work is underway,” Ms van der Putten says.
“Because our Western Line train frequencies will be reduced during this period we do expect there will be times when services are very busy, especially during the morning peak when both workers and students are travelling at the same time.
“To help manage this demand, all our Western Line trains will have six carriages at peak times, and we’ll also run extra buses to help make it easier for customers complete their journeys.
“We continue to be grateful for our customers’ patience and flexibility. This time the main disruption is only for seven weeks, and two of those weeks will be school holidays when trains will be quieter.”
The RBWN buses will stop at all stations between New Lynn and Newmarket every 10 minutes from 7am until 8:30am on weekdays. There will also be more buses on the 22N route, which connects Western Line stations between New Lynn and Kingsland with the city centre.
People should use the AT Mobile app and AT Journey Planner to help plan their usual journeys and AT’s contact centre (09 366 6400) can also assist. AT Ambassadors will help customers at key stations the week commencing Monday 11 March.
KiwiRail has completed Rail Network Rebuild work on the Southern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Newmarket and the Onehunga Line (Stage 1), and on the Eastern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Waitematā (Britomart) (Stage 2). Stage 3, which is currently underway, includes foundation replacement and drainage improvements on the Western Line between Newmarket and New Lynn (Stage 3a) and drainage improvements on the Southern Line (Stage 3b). This drainage work is currently underway between Puhinui and Papakura. Rail improvement work will be carried out between Papakura and Pukekohe later this year.
KiwiRail is in discussions with government about further funding to complete the Rail Network Rebuild in Auckland, such as the Western Line north west of New Lynn and further foundation replacement work on the Southern Line south of Ōtāhuhu.
More information on the Rail Network Rebuild is at:
www.kiwirail.co.nz/akl/railnetworkrebuild
ENDS