Rail Network Rebuild

At Pukekohe, the formation for the old Down Main has been dug up in preparation for rebuilding

28 December 2022

At Drury, just the Up Main remains while the Down Main is rebuilt. The section between Papakura and Pukekohe is already closed to Auckland Transport services, so this section was able to start almost immediately upon the announcement of the rebuild programme

28 December 2022

The Down Main at Drury lifted, with the formation dug up. To the left is the site of the planned park and ride and bus interchange for the new Drury station

28 December 2022

While new signals were installed and commissioned, the signals on the Down Main have now been removed again in preparation for the formation rebuild

28 December 2022

The first stage of the rebuild sees the closure of the Southern Line between Otahuhu and Newmarket, and the Onehunga Line. At this early stage of the project, the only signs of work are disconnected axle counters and signalling equipment along the Onehunga Branch

28 December 2022

At Ellerslie, station access is closed as no services will be using the station until March 2023

28 December 2022

Ellerslie station platform is closed off ahead of the rebuild project starting. The line will be entirely rebuilt here in one go; it is assumed that trains 120 and 129 will be running via Panmure during this time

28 December 2022

Stabled at Penrose with Cyclone Gabrielle imminent, track machines ETM 526, ETM 541 and ETM 554 sit at Platform 3 on the Onehunga Branch, awaiting their next duties on the closed section of line

12 February 2023

At the end of the pack, ETM 554 waits at Platform 3 at Penrose for tasks. The Onehunga Branch is currently closed as part of the Rail Network Rebuild until 19 March

12 February 2023

ETM 541 sitting in the middle, with ETM 526 at the Onehunga end of the consist

12 February 2023

Although hard to tell in the wet weather, sections of track at Penrose have been lifted, dug out and relaid, including part of the curve on the Onehunga Branch

12 February 2023

The current stage of the Rail Network Rebuild is under way between Papakura and Pukekohe, while the line remains closed to metro services. Here, the Down Main at Opaheke Road has been lifted to work on the formation underneath

8 October 2024

The current end of rails on the Down Main at Opaheke Road, just past the level crossing. The line is expected to reopen to metro trains after the Christmas holiday shutdown in January 2025, using electric trains

8 October 2024

During the extended 2024/2025 holiday shutdown, both the Up and Down Mains between Papatoetoe and Puhinui were removed for formation rebuilding, as seen here at Papatoetoe station

7 January 2025

A roller works on the formation underneath the track, during a holiday shutdown. Removing the track in this area also gives a glimpse at the old, lower platform underneath, which was raised in 1993 for the ADK and ADL DMUs

7 January 2025

Looking the other way from the footbridge, formation work under the Up and Down Mains is under way, with the newly built third main still intact

7 January 2025

Looking along the rail corridor south from Papatoetoe, with little sign of actual tracks in place. Above, an Air New Zealand flight is on final approach to Auckland Airport

7 January 2025

A digger loads a truck with ballast at Papatoetoe station, which will then head down the third main to drop off its load

7 January 2025

Further south at Puhinui, the Up and Down Mains are also missing while the formation underneath is rebuilt. A lone departure signal appears to be in the middle of nowhere

7 January 2025

A wider view of the work north of Puhinui station, also with the third main still intact

7 January 2025

Track has also been removed alongside the platform at Puhinui, with the new backshunt also still intact. Also like Papatoetoe, the original lower platform is still visible, with the clear division from the extended platform evident

7 January 2025

Puhinui station platform without track, during formation work underneath. Of note on the platform is a barbeque, presumably used to feed workers

7 January 2025

Looking north from Puhinui station footbridge, while formation works are completed underneath the Up and Down Mains. The third main is in use as an access road and for storage of rails

7 January 2025

At Otahuhu, sections of track have been lifted for work underneath, and at the time we visited, have started to be replaced

18 January 2025

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