Pukekohe Electrification and Upgrades

The new lift takes shape as it rises above the new platform

28 July 2023

With all of the platform edges now in place, track laying has commenced. Here, sleepers in the original location of the Up Main and roughly the same place as the old loop has been laid for the new platform tracks

23 August 2023

The location of the new platforms is now clear, with all but one with at least sleepers in place

23 August 2023

Looking the other way, construction of stairs to access the new platforms has started. Lifts for disabled access is on the other side of the bridge

23 August 2023

Breaking up the noise of construction work, DL 9792 passes by with train 140 in tow

23 August 2023

DL 9792 passes the end of the original southbound platform and directing signal, before crossing back to the Up Main

23 August 2023

The lift shaft for the new platforms takes shape around the rest of the construction work

23 August 2023

Further progress at Pukekohe, as new stairs are installed for platform access. This set replaces the previous set for the existing platform, now heading straight down instead of turning around halfway down

11 September 2023

New track has been laid next to the platforms, as well as a third track between the platforms

11 September 2023

On the north end, the new tracks don't yet have all ballast in place. Points have also been installed for access to the platforms from the Up and Down mains

11 September 2023

Stairs have also been installed on the new platform, giving a more complete look

11 September 2023

At the south end of the yard, access trackage has been laid for the new stabling yard

11 September 2023

Overhead masts and fittings have made their way to at least Boundary Road, almost ready for wires

12 September 2023

One crossing south, the upgraded alarms at Opaheke Road are silhouetted against the setting sun

12 September 2023

Masts in this area have also been installed, though not yet with wire fittings

12 September 2023

Further south at Sutton Road, part of the Down Main has been lifted for formation works, with trains now using the Up Main. Overhead masts in this area also do not yet have fittings for wires, though one wires now terminates here

12 September 2023

Overhead masts at Sutton Road looking north

12 September 2023

After sunset, signals provide most of the light at Drury. Here, some wires have been installed

12 September 2023

At Pukekohe station, masts for electrification have now appeared above all tracks

4 October 2023

Masts above trackwork at the north end of the station. The tracks appear to now be connected to the Up Main, with work on the Down Main to be completed during a line closure

4 October 2023

Looking south, masts spanning all three middle tracks are in place, and track work towards the stabling yard can be seen

4 October 2023

Just south of Pukekohe station, masts are in place just beyond the Subway Road overbridge

4 October 2023

The new track through Pukekohe has now been connected to the Up Main at the north end, with one track almost ready for use

30 October 2023

A view further back, work on both platforms is progressing, with one starting to have structures installed

30 October 2023

Looking south, the platform surfaces are being worked on, with track largely complete in this area

30 October 2023

Platform structures popping up here include the frame for the shelter and a ticket booth. Some track for the western most platform has also started to be laid

30 October 2023

At the south end, a new signal has been lit up, indicating the track may come into use very soon

30 October 2023

At Pukekohe during a weekend Block of Line, trucks are in place on the now-active Up Main installing overhead wires

26 November 2023

With a cable reel on one truck and a scissor lift for workers on the other, the trucks slowly head back towards the platform after anchoring the new wire in place

26 November 2023

Workers hook the new cable onto temporary hooks as the trucks roll it out

26 November 2023

Behind the trucks, workers on hi-rail cherry pickers attach the cable into their permanent mounts

26 November 2023

With platform and track work almost complete, new wiring at the station gives a great idea of what the completed project will look like

26 November 2023

Platform work at the south end of the station with the trucks still installing wires. In the background, track work for the stabling yard is nearing completion

26 November 2023

Looking north, the crossovers connecting each platform are also nearing completion. Note the cut and now-former Down Main between crossovers; this will no longer be the primary southbound route upon completion, with the (presumed) Down Main in the centre not being on any platform

26 November 2023

Although most track is now in place, the fourth platform is still missing any sign of track beyond a stub at the north end. To the left, the new lift shaft for the new platforms is taking shape

26 November 2023

Looking over the north end of the new platforms, with the shelter quickly taking shape

26 November 2023

A few days into the New Year, the lift shaft at Pukekohe now has its decorative elements, and looking almost complete

3 January 2024

Also early in the New Year, track work at Pukekohe appears to be largely complete, with all track in place and just some signalling work to be done

3 January 2024

Looking the other way towards Papakura, the frame for the new shelter on the new platforms is now in place. It's now easy to imagine the look of the completed station

3 January 2024

Between platforms, track is in place and awaiting tamping. From this angle, multiple crossovers are visible allowing trains to arrive and depart simultaneously

3 January 2024

Now looking south towards Hamilton, the same tracks pass the inner platforms. The shelter frame for the existing platform is also well in progress

3 January 2024

Further north in Drury, station construction has commented, with earthworks and the first signs of the edge of a platform appearing

3 January 2024

A close up view of the start of the edge of the platform, for Drury station. The new station is roughly in the same location as the original station, which closed in 1972

3 January 2024

An overview of the station construction site, with the platform on the far right. A bus layover is set to be constructed in place of Flanagan Road at this position, with a park and ride occupying the land where the green house is located - a second house behind has already been demolished

3 January 2024

As part of the 2023/2024 shutdown works, the overhead electrification between Papakura and Pukekohe is set to be commissioned. Here, at Sutton Road, work is undertaken on the wires ahead of livening

3 January 2024

At Papakura, the wires are seemlessly connected to the existing electrification, though a section remains missing across Boundary Road while the crossing is upgraded

3 January 2024

One of KiwiRail's newest tampers, ETM 703 sits at Papakura waiting for its next duty

3 January 2024

ETM 703 waiting at Papakura for its next job. As part of the signalling upgrade to Pukekohe, new directing signals were installed for arrivals into the platforms

3 January 2024