Government asked to stump up $200m for improvements to Wellington rail network

Monday, 25 December 2017

The Government has been asked for $200m to improve Wellington's rail network

Almost $200 million of improvements are required on Wellington's rail network, including upgrading the track on the troubled Wairarapa line.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has asked for the money through two business cases submitted to the Government, which it hopes will be included in next year's Budget.

They include a request for $90 million to renew track infrastructure on the Wairarapa line, and another $10m for other critical track infrastructure and improving safety on 'high-risk' slopes across the network.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has asked the Government for $200 million worth of improvements to the region's rail network, including $90m to upgrade tracks on the Wairarapa line.

The proposal aimed to correct the 'historic under-investment' in the KiwiRail-owned Wairarapa track, and improve reliability and resilience on the network, the council said.

**READ MORE:

Poor performance on the Wairarapa line has become a pressing concern for the council.

* Opinion: Wairarapa rail line needs serious investment

* Frustrated Wairarapa rail commuters told to get used to longer journey times

* Improvements in store for troubled Wairarapa line

* Urgent push for Wairarapa rail line upgrade

* Rail lines of verge of closure before funding boost**

Other improvements being sought include adding an extra track between Trentham and Upper Hutt; installing a 'turnback' point at Plimmerton Station so trains can stop there and turn back towards Wellington; and making the Johnsonville line a fourth main line into Wellington.

The latter would be achieved by creating a dedicated line for Johnsonville trains on the approach to Wellington Station.

Increased power supply on the northern Kāpiti line is also being sought to allow for longer trains.

The Wairarapa line, which runs between Wellington and Masterton, has been dogged by lateness in recent years, primarily because of aging tracks which mean trains are subject to speed restrictions.

Punctuality rates have dropped to as low as 50 per cent in some months, and frustrated commuters were recently told timetables would be adjusted to reflect the frequency of delays.

The council said the combined package of improvements would increase peak-time capacity on the Kāpiti line by 43 per cent, and on the Hutt Valley line by 33 per cent.

Total patronage would increase by between 1.8 million and 5.4 million passengers a year.

KiwiRail said there were a number of slopes in the Wellington area which could affect the network in the event of earthquakes or heavy rain, but could not confirm where they were, or how many.

'These are not at immediate risk of causing disruption,' it said in a statement.

'KiwiRail proactively inspects and rates slips as part of our engineering management processes.'

Methods to prevent slips included adding retaining walls, rock bolts, mesh, drainage, or fencing, or removing or adding vegetation, KiwiRail said. It could also increase inspections and maintenance of the high-risk sites.

The regional council's general manager of transport, Wayne Hastie, said he was confident the funding would be approved.

'Greater Wellington believes the business case is compelling, and is optimistic the Crown will see it that way.

'The funding would enable track upgrades and resilience work that will dramatically improve the level of service we can provide to the region, and in particular to our Wairarapa customers.'