Rail Line Upgrades
There are some big improvements underway for our transport network. It’s going to take time to make the improvements needed to your rail network and there will always be ongoing upkeep – that’s part and parcel of running a rail network. Read on for more information on what’s planned for this Christmas and summer period.
Buses will replace trains on the Wairarapa line for 46 days between 26 December 2024 and 10 February 2025, as KiwiRail closes the rail line to carry out an ongoing programme of maintenance work, and extensive upgrades to get the line ready for faster trains and more frequent services.
Trains will also be replaced by buses on the Johnsonville line and parts of the Kāpiti, Hutt Valley and Melling lines for 18 days between 26 December 2024 and 13 January 2025 to commission the new signalling system at Wellington Railway Station, as well as undertake track renewal and maintenance works.
What's happening on our rail network?
Why is it happening?
The rail network requires a lot of work to make sure it continues to be safe and it's up to standard ahead of the introduction of new hybrid trains by 2028/9. During the Wairarapa Line closure, KiwiRail is replacing more than 8km of old track inside the Remutaka Tunnel (first laid in 1955), renewing the signalling system at Wellington Railway Station and upgrading several level crossings between Masterton and Featherston.
In addition to track renewals and regular maintenance, there will also be work done to upgrade the signalling system from the old lever run system to a new computer based one, which will be managed out of Wallaceville. This upgrade is crucial to facilitating a more efficient network in the years to come and will allow for more services to our regions. To complete the change from the old to the new, the whole system needs to be switched off and then tested. We are using the closure of the line (when trains aren’t running) to complete this work.
The remaining lines (Hutt, Kāpiti, Johnsonville and Melling) will also close for 18 days for the work on the signalling system.
Other works we will be doing during this time include:
- Replacing crossovers (allows trains to cross from one track to another) in Porirua.
- Undertaking slope stability work in the Pukerua Bay area.
- General track renewal and maintenance on all lines.
Why is the work happening over the summer
months?
As is the nature of running a rail network, to do upgrade and maintenance work safely and efficiently we need to close the railway lines. Passenger numbers are much lower during January and doing the work then will cause the least amount of disruptions.
Why are there still works leading up to
the Christmas Block of Line?
This piece of work is part of the much larger Future Rail project, aimed at improving the rail network ahead of the new hybrid trains due to enter service in 2028-2029. You can find out about the wider scope of works by looking at our Projects Timeline.
Ongoing maintenance will be carried out across the rail network as usual before the blocks of line as well as afterwards. Sometimes this requires the closure of lines to ensure the work can be completed safely and efficiently.
More information on these works can be found at the following links:
Why is the closure of the Wairarapa line longer?
The Remutaka Tunnel is narrow with a single track, meaning we can’t keep services running on an alternative line. In order to replace the tracks inside the Remutaka Tunnel we need to close the entire track. We are also upgrading the level crossings, passing loops at Woodside and doing signalling work between Featherston and Carterton.
We are doing the work in one go to reduce the long-term impact of the works by doing it in pieces.
Did you know that the length of the tracks inside the tunnel are almost the same length as the tracks between Wellington and Johnsonville.
Will this be the end of the work on rail?
Not quite! With the introduction of new trains on the horizon, we need to make sure the network is ready for them, but we’ve also got to ensure our network is maintained during the intervening years so we can keep the current fleet of trains running.
And as always, to keep our network safe and running smoothly we will have maintenance work scheduled. We will always work hard to minimise impacts to our customers during these times.
Stay updated by checking our website for updates leading up to and throughout the block of line.
How can I travel around the region in the
meantime?
We will have buses replacing train services during this time. We will keep our customers updated via our website and the Metlink app.
What can I do if I have any questions?
You can call us on 0800 801 700 or pop a comment in the comment box below.