Rail Network Rebuild

A digger crosses the tracks as other machinery gets to work

18 January 2025

Parked up over the shutdown period, DL 9567 sits in the Westfield yard, with its extra handrails

18 January 2025

North of the Railway Lane bridge, limited work is being undertaken, though some new track without ballast is evident

18 January 2025

An overview of Westfield yard with its new track layout, alongside newly installed track on the mainline

18 January 2025

A couple of weeks later at Papatoetoe, track work is complete, with the new Up and Down Mains tamped and almost ready to go

21 January 2025

Signalling workers reconnect signal components on the Down Main at Papatoetoe. While the station is not one to reopen for passengers with most of the rest of the network on 28 January, freight trains and long distance passenger trains will still pass through

21 January 2025

Looking south from the footbridge, with all three tracks through here reinstated

21 January 2025

Looking south from the park and ride, along the Up Main and third main. The track as far as here has been in use for a few months, with newly arrived AM units travelling here on test runs before returning to the depot

21 January 2025

Looking north, the signals here are yet to be reconnected, with the signal on the third main newly installed. North of here, the third main needs the Middlemore section completed before it can come into use

21 January 2025

At Puhinui, tracks have also been reinstated, ready to welcome trains again for the first time in 2025

21 January 2025

Looking from further along the footbridge, with the new tracks completed and ready to go

21 January 2025

Tracks back in place on the southbound platform at Puhinui, with the backshunt still in place

21 January 2025

All three tracks at Puhinui with brand new ballast, now accepting rail traffic. Minutes before this shot, Te Huia departed on its first run for 2025

28 January 2025

At Homai, the new ramp is now open and ready for passengers. AM 253 pulls into the station to drop off all passengers, before continuing to Wiri to switch directions for the return journey to Papakura

28 January 2025

AM 253 pulls into Homai station near the end of the first day of train services for 2025. Buses replace trains from here to Ōtāhuhu for another week, before full reopening of services the following Monday

28 January 2025

AM 253 pulls into Homai as AM 552 waits on the other platform for its own journey back to Papakura

28 January 2025

With AM 253 now off to Wiri, AM 552 sits on the other platform waiting for its scheduled departure to Papakura

28 January 2025

AM 552 sits next to the new ramp at Homai, next to the now completely removed level crossing

28 January 2025

AM 552 departs Homai for its short journey to Papakura

28 January 2025