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Rail improvement works on the Paraparaumu Line

Wednesday 7 April 2010, 12:47PM

By Greater Wellington Regional Council

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PARAPARAUMU

Over the following month a number of improvements will be carried out on the Paraparaumu Line, from replacing overhead wires and poles at some sites, to installing new railway sleepers at others.

 

Buses will replace some trains to allow this work to take place including:

 

  • Between Wellington – Porirua from 4am Sat 10 April – 3am Sun 11 April
  • Between Wellington – Paraparaumu from 4am – midnight Sun 11 April
  • Between Paekakariki – Paraparaumu from 4am Sat 17 April – midnight Sun 18 April
  • Between Wellington – Porirua from 4am Sat 24 April – midnight Sun25 April
  • Between Paekakariki – Paraparaumu from 4am Sat 1 May – midnight Sun 2 May

More information about bus replacements is available at Tranz Metro or via Metlink on 0800 801 700. Please note all buses will depart Wellington Station from Platform 9 and are unable to carry bicycles.

 

This weekend many of the sleepers on the line at Takapu Road Station near Tawa will be replaced, with KiwiRail staff working around the clock to get the work done in time for passengers to catch their Monday morning train.

 

Elsewhere on the line foundations will be prepared for new poles to hold the overhead wires which power Wellington’s electric trains and later in the month, sections of the overhead wires themselves will be replaced.

 

Much of the work is part of the Wellington Region Rail Programme, a series of improvements to the Wellington railway system that will give commuters more reliable passenger services.  This is a joint initiative between the Greater Wellington Regional Council and KiwiRail (ONTRACK and Tranz Metro).

 

The Wellington Region Rail Programme includes:

 

  • A fleet of new electric trains – the Matangi trains
  • Extension of electrification and double tracked lines to take commuter services to Waikanae;
  • Installation of power supply equipment and railway signalling;
  • Adding another line into Wellington Railway Station to reduce delays;
  • Making the Johnsonville Line tunnels larger; and
  • Improving a number of platform and station facilities.