Wellington Railway Station
KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council are working together to build a better, more efficient and sustainable rail network for Wellingtonians.
Wellington Station Re-signalling
The Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme (WMUP), which is part of Future Rail, is a $700 million programme of works to upgrade the existing rail infrastructure as well as build capacity to support more and faster trains.
As part of this extensive region-wide programme, we’re replacing all the signalling equipment at Wellington Railway Station and in the station approaches. This work is necessary, with some of the existing systems dating as far back as 1937.
The physical works for this project started at Easter 2023 and are expected to be completed at Christmas 2024. We are doing our best to work with minimal disruption to commuters. But we are going to need time to get the work done.
We expect to be working many weekends, all public holidays and most nights between now and the end of 2024.
For more details on Metlink services, visit metlink.org.nz. You can also contact us at wgtnupgrade@kiwirail.co.nz.
The re-signalling project is funded through the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP).
The re-signalling project is a major step towards modernising Wellington’s rail network. The work we’re doing will improve safety in what is New Zealand’s most complex railway junction.
It is also a critical step in growing the region’s passenger rail capacity allowing the future expansion of infrastructure to support more local and regional train services.
A-Box
Signalling is the process by which train movements are controlled between and along tracks. It ensures that trains operate safely.
Currently, signals at Wellington Station are controlled from A-Box, a signal box located in the station approaches. Opened in 1937, this signal box is fitted with levers that are operated manually. These levers control turnouts - allowing trains to move onto different tracks - and signals, which control the safe movement of trains.
This signal box controls Wellington Railway Station and its approaches, as far as Ngauranga. From here onwards, train movements are managed from KiwiRail’s new train control centre in Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, which also controls train movements right around the country, except for Auckland.
A-Box has seven staff responsible for operating the signalling equipment. They work around the clock. Several of them have been in these roles for decades. (We’ll be sharing their stories over the next months, online and in a series of quarterly updates, so watch this space.)
The changes we’re making will mean that, by January 2025, signalling for Wellington’s rail network will be controlled entirely from the Wallaceville train control centre.
TIMELINE OF ACTIVITY
This is complex work, in a challenging environment. Think of it as trying to change a tyre on a moving car.
We’re replacing 90 years of historical assets and there is a lot of existing fragile infrastructure to work around. There may be some unforeseen disruption because of this.
We’re working in a confined and busy environment and need to keep the existing signalling system working at all times. The work can only be carried out when no trains are running and, due to the location, affects all lines.
Aside from the shift from a lever operated system to a computer-based one, the project also includes track work, with the planned installation of 14 new turnouts in the approaches to Wellington Railway Station.
KiwiRail’s overhead line, track and signals teams are involved as well as contractors including Siemens and Downer. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes to make sure we can deliver as seamlessly as possible.
We are doing our best to work with minimal disruption to commuters. But we are going to need time to get the work done. We expect to be working many weekends, all public holidays and most nights between now and the end of 2024.
• Ducting works
Our contractor Downer is establishing a 6km duct route for signalling and power cabling. This work is expected to be completed by June 2024.
During this period, we will be working a minimum of two weeks a month, from Sundays to Wednesdays, between 8pm and 4am.
• New level crossing
We have realigned the track and put in a new level crossing near the depot in the approaches to Wellington Railway Station, to improve safety for level crossing users.
• Track work
Track modifications are required for compatibility with the new signalling system and its safety requirements. The aim is to carry out as many of the track changes as possible ahead of the final commissioning. However, for operational reasons, some of this track work can only happen at the end of the project, when the old signalling system is switched off.
• Signalling
Although the new signalling system will look very similar from the window of your train, it will be significantly different in most other respects. Again, the aim is to have as much of the new signalling infrastructure installed as possible ahead of the signals commissioning.
In early 2024, when the ducting works are well progressed, you will start to see new signals erected in parallel with the old system. These will either have a white cross over them or be folded down so that locomotive engineers do not confuse the two systems.
During Christmas 2024, engineers will switch off the existing signalling system, complete the remaining implementation works and then commission the new system over approximately three weeks. This final stage is extremely complex with signalling engineers from all over the world being involved.
When trains run again in early January 2025 they will be fully controlled by the new system.
Questions?
Please contact us on:
- 0800 801 070 (daytime hours)
- 0800 801 070 extn 43042 (after hours)
- email wgtnupgrade@kiwirail.co.nz