This month KiwiRail will be in Featherston to continue work on the level crossing safety improvements, starting with Revans Street on King’s Birthday, and moving to Fox Street in June.
Each level crossing is being fitted with a pedestrian maze to create safe separation between people and cars. Equipment for the automatic barrier arms and warning signals are also going in, ready to go live early 2027 once power is switched on to the newly installed signals.
Revans Street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians between 7.30am and 5pm each day over the long weekend while the work takes place, with traffic management in place to detour traffic via nearby Fitzherbert Street. Crew will be back on site from Mid-June through to the end of August to complete the upgrade. There will be lane closures during this time to ensure safety while we do the work, but no full road closure.
Trains will also be out of action over King’s Birthday to allow this and other crucial work to be done around the network. Information about bus replacements will be on the Metlink website.
KiwiRail Programme Director Andy Lyon from KiwiRail says it’s all part of the work with Greater Wellington to get faster and more frequent services running between Masterton and Wellington by 2029.
“More trains travelling at faster speeds is great news for commuters, but it significantly increases risk. The work we’re doing at Revans Street and the other crossings is to make them safer, more structured in the way people use them.
“We’re getting the infrastructure in now, and early 2027 we turn on power to the warning signals which means the pedestrian gates will close automatically, and barrier arms come down across the road as trains approach. In the meantime, it’s important to always look and listen for trains, cross carefully, every time, every crossing.
“We know the work can be disruptive and we appreciate everyone’s patience. We’re pleased to be getting through the upgrades in good time and are proud to making the line safer and more resilient for Wairarapa commuters.”
Once the work is complete, and new trains operating on the line travel times between Masterton and Wellington will reduce by around 15 minutes.
Featherston level crossing upgrades at a glance: