Clearing the way for Electrification

There are 24 locations around the Auckland rail network where bridges must be replaced or railway tracks lowered to create enough space for the electrified overhead wires which need to be installed.

Eleven road bridges have already been replaced in and around Newmarket, Manukau and Papakura - and the tracks lowered beneath Mt Eden and Sandringham Roads and through tunnels in Purewa (Meadowbank) and Parnell.

SOUTHERN AND EASTERN LINE BRIDGE WORKS

KiwiRail is now working through a programme of bridge replacements/ track lowering along the Southern and Eastern Lines to make room for overhead wires. These will be completed during 2011 and 2012. It is likely the bridge works will require full and partial road closures at times during construction.

Over the summer KiwiRail will start work on the following bridges to ensure they have enough clearance beneath them for the electric wires that will power Auckland's new trains:

Orakei Road (with Auckland Transport) - fully replaced. For more on this replacement please read the presentation from our recent open day - to find out more click here.

Orakei station footbridge - this bridge will have its overall height raised

Mt Wellington Highway - this road over-bridge is being fully replaced

In addition to the above works, KiwiRail is working with a number of other agencies on the following projects:

Puhinui station footbridge - fully replaced by Watercare

Mountain Rd and Ellerslie Panmure Highway - fully replaced by AMETI, part of Auckland Transport

KiwiRail, its contractors and partners understand these projects will inevitably create some impacts on the local community and have planned its works carefully to minimise overall disruption.

It is KiwiRail's intention to get the work done as quickly as possible to return the community to normality.

For more information about our current activities, please see our Current Activities page