Installing utilities
The rail corridor can be used to carry utility services, provided they meet KiwiRail’s property and engineering requirements.
The rail corridor can be used to carry utility services. Gas pipes, water pipes, electricity cables and telecommunication cables may run along or across railway land, provided they meet KiwiRail’s property and engineering requirements.
KiwiRail manages access to the rail corridor through a permit system and ensures that all new utility installations are safe, compliant and correctly documented. This includes planning safe access, coordinating conditional approvals and recording the property rights for any new assets installed on railway land.
If you are a utility company or local authority wanting to install or maintain services within the rail corridor, a Grant Agreement must be in place. This grant provides the legal right to occupy railway land.
If you do not have a grant, you can apply by completing the Application for a Grant.open_in_new
Please note that a Grant Agreement is separate from a Permit to Enter (PtE).
A PtE is required for any physical work activity inside the rail corridor.
Engineering Requirements
Your proposed utility installation must comply with the following KiwiRail standards and design requirements:
Grants - Frequently Asked Questions
For safety reasons, we need to know what activities are taking place on the rail
land. Please apply for a Permit to Enter. Please note that it is illegal to enter the rail corridor without a Permit to Enter.
The Grant process involves obtaining KiwiRail’s approval for activities such as installing, replacing, maintaining, or upgrading assets on rail land, as well as securing approval for other proposed works.
A Grant is an agreement between KiwiRail (the Grantor) and a person or organisation (the Grantee) who wants to have and maintain an asset on rail land. It sets out the responsibilities of each party and identifies the location along the railway line where the Grantee may cross the railway or install the asset.
These rights are granted under Section 35 of the New Zealand Railways Corporation Act 1981, which empowers the Corporation through KiwiRail to grant rights over, or under, any railway land, subject to conditions and payments of
fees.
Yes. Everyone who has and maintains an asset on rail land needs to have a legal agreement in place giving them the right to do this. A Grant agreement records these rights.
Yes. For safety reasons, we need to know what is installed on rail land and the specification of the asset (e.g. its nature and size).
When you replace and upgrade existing assets or install new assets on rail land, these changes must be documented in a Grant agreement too.
Pipes, cables, bridges or underpasses, power and communications, water races and open drains, level crossings, rights of way and pathways, and other utilities and services like billboards and advertising.
Yes, however you will need to apply for an additional Grant. You will need to provide As Built plans and provide documents showing that the asset will not fail or cause disruption to rail traffic and there’s sufficient clearance beneath existing
structures.
The form is available online, Application Formopen_in_new for a Grant or you can email grants@kiwirail.co.nz so we can send you the link to the form. When we receive your completed form and proposed plans, our engineers will assess whether they meet our requirements. Please allow up to 10 weeks for processing.
Like any other business, we need to cover the costs of managing our property. The fee reflects those costs.
The fee depends on the quantity, type of asset involved and the linear metres or area it occupies. The minimum annual fee is $400 plus GST.
If you still want to have your asset on rail land, you can object to the proposed fee. You will need to make your objection to us in writing, indicating the fee that you feel is appropriate. We will review your feedback, make any reassessments required and confirm the fee in writing to you.
There’s a 3% fixed increase per annum and a fee review every five years.
No-one will be asked to remove anything from their own land. However, if you are using KiwiRail land, we will need to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation. It’s illegal to install an asset on another owner’s property without their consent or having appropriate agreements in place.
Yes, we can agree on payment options. You can pay annually, half-yearly or quarterly. Please contact grants@kiwirail.co.nz
To process your application, the application and documentation fee needs to be paid. You will be asked to provide a purchase order number. If you’re unable to generate one, please email us so we can send a Direct Debit Form to you.
If you don’t have an existing agreement in place, we’ll work with you to ensure you have a reasonable period of time. This period will depend on the type of asset installed. However, as a guide, we would suggest removal within three
months.
For safety reasons, our engineers will assess each situation on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to discuss it further.
If you are planning to move, you must inform us and provide the Grant details to the new owner. The new owner will need to complete the Grant application form and sign the grant agreement to transfer ownership of the asset. If the new owner does not wish to take ownership of the asset, it must be removed or capped before the termination notice of the grant agreement expires.