Electric rail set to connect Pukekohe
Pukekohe will get electric trains as part of the National Party’s new $267 million transport investment.
Over the next three years, Auckland and Wellington commuter rail networks will be improved to support future passenger growth in their surrounding areas.
The package, announced on Sunday, includes the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line, which National has said will cost $130 million, and adding a third main line from Wiri to Westfield, which will cost $100 million.
Hunua MP, Andrew Bayly, said that the third main line from Wiri to Westfield would provide a dedicated freight line that would increase the efficiency of this corridor allowing for greater frequency, improved travel times and provide more reliability for Pukekohe commuters.
‘‘The real issue is between Wiri and Westfield because of the ports ... freight trains are given priority over commuter trains which causes congestion,’’ said Bayly.
‘‘With the addition of an extra lane, freight trains can stop on the separate line, which frees up the other lines for commuter trains.’’
The electrification will result in an 11 minute travel time-saving for people from south of Papa-
‘‘It is much-needed. It is a hugely growing area and it is recognised by everyone.’’
kura, and replacing diesel trains with electric trains will reduce the amount of emissions coming from the city’s public transport system.
‘‘I am absolutely delighted with the new plan,’’ said Bayly.
‘‘It is much-needed. It is a hugely growing area and it is recognised by everyone.’’
South Auckland in particular is providing a significant part of Auckland’s growth with 21,000 more new houses planned in Drury, Pukekohe and Paerata.
The two Auckland rail projects will help cater for that growth, National said, with two new train stations in Drury South and Paerata part of the plan.
The trains will be fully funded over the next four years through the Government’s overall 2017 capital budget, which is an addition to the $450 million KiwiRail capital budget announced in budget 2017.
While concept designs for all track, signalling and electrification have been finalised, completion of the detailed design will take approximately 6 months.
Work on the lines are set to commence before the end of next year but that will be dependent on resource consent and possible property acquisitions.