Auckland Transport (AT) has released information about how Auckland rail passengers can continue to travel during the first stage of KiwiRail’s Rail Network Rebuild project.
The Rail Network Rebuild is an upgrade of the Auckland rail network, one section at a time, so we can provide faster journey times and more frequent, reliable trains when the City Rail Link (CRL) opens.
“Stage one of the rebuild will run for two months, between 16 January and 19 March, with trains unable to operate on the Onehunga Line and the Southern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Newmarket, effectively closing six stations – Remuera, Greenlane, Ellerslie, Penrose, Te Papapa and Onehunga,” KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer David Gordon said.
“During this time we will be digging up and replacing the rock foundations under the tracks and improving drainage in the rail corridor, which is a crucial part of preparing the network for the more frequent trains to come with CRL,” Gordon added.
Auckland Transport Interim Chief Executive Mark Lambert says AT has been working closely with KiwiRail to ensure the least possible disruption for Auckland’s rail customers while this work is underway.
“For those customers unable to travel to and from the six stations where trains will not be running we have released details of a range of alternative bus services, including two express services,” Lambert said.
To ensure that replacement bus services will give customers faster and more reliable alternative journeys, AT said it is also working to optimize traffic lights for buses.
“Because the Rail Network Rebuild is being completed by KiwiRail in stages we are able to reduce the number of passengers affected by disruption from this project at any one time,” Lambert said.
“For this stage one of the project about 85% of our rail passengers will be able to continue catching the train,” Lambert added. “All Southern Line passengers travelling between Britomart and stations south of Ōtāhuhu can still use trains as Southern Line train services will be rerouted through the Eastern Line, meaning trains will continue to run between Britomart and most Southern Line stops.”
AT has also launched a customer communications campaign to give passengers information to plan their journeys when stage one of the Rail Network Rebuild begins in January.
KiwiRail will also communicate with rail corridor neighbors about the work in stage one.
