KiwiRail: Historical Maintenance
Description
In 2018 the Government made a large investment in overdue maintenance on Wellington’s rail infrastructure, such as replacing worn-out track and structures, redoing drainage systems and stabilising slopes. These works include:
- Replacing all track on the Wairarapa Line (including inside tunnels and over bridges) in addition to drainage and vegetation work.
- Stabilisation on the Kāpiti Line, as well as upgrading drainage in Tawa tunnels and renewing sleepers within the Paekākāriki tunnels.
- Replacing track inside seven tunnels along the Johnsonville Line.
- Renewing tracks and track connections at Wellington Railway Station.
Part of the historical maintenance includes renewing the track inside the 8.8km Remutaka Tunnel, which was built in the 1950s.
Partnerships
Metlink and KiwiRail are partnering on the Future Rail programme to build a better, more efficient and sustainable rail network for Wellingtonians. KiwiRail is delivering this deferred maintenance as part of Future Rail.
Updates
Over Easter, the project team replaced 300m of track inside the Remutaka Tunnel. During the ANZAC network shutdown, they replaced another 200m.
Most track work is complete except for Maoribank Tunnel (expected early 2024) and Remutaka Tunnel (expected early 2025).
After two years of bus replacements, off-peak services are returning to the Wairarapa Line. The bus replacements were necessary while KiwiRail replaced 58.8km of rails and sleepers.
The team has completed the drainage work inside the Maoribank Tunnel.
Over the Christmas 2022 network shutdown, KiwiRail worked on renewing the tracks and made other improvements in two Kapiti Line tunnels.
During the Christmas 2021 network shutdown, KiwiRail re-laid the track inside several tunnels on the Kapiti Line.
Benefits
A safer, more resilient network that can support future passenger growth. Renewing end-of-life infrastructure will enable KiwiRail to lift some temporary speed restrictions, improving journey times.
Customer Impact
Much of the historical maintenance across the Wellington region is now complete. The remaining work impacts the Wairarapa Line. Work will take place during planned 'blocks of line' on public holidays and during the annual network shutdown. Disrupted services will be replaced by bus.
To get the Remutaka Tunnel track re-lay completed, the Christmas 2024 network shutdown on the Wairarapa Line will need to run until Waitangi 2025 – much longer than usual. Find out more here.
