KIWIRAIL AUCKLAND METRO PROGRAMME
URGENT TRACK REPAIRS
AUGUST 2020
WHAT IS THE AUCKLAND METRO RAIL
areas – such as the Wellington metro network and
PROGRAMME?
on the East Coast Main Trunk between Hamilton
and Tauranga.
KiwiRail’s $1 billion Auckland Metro Programme
is a suite of projects that will ease congestion in
WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME AWARE OF
the busiest parts of the network by building new
track and a third main line, extend electrification
THE ISSUE IN AUCKLAND AND WHAT HAS
to Pukekohe, build new stations around Drury and
BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS?
deliver city-wide renewals that will cut delays and
All rail is subject to wear and tear, but we began
make sure Auckland is ready for the City Rail Link.
seeing a more widespread issue in Auckland
Modernising the track and replacing worn rail is part
around three years ago. In early 2018 we
of this programme.
established a technical working group with
Auckland Transport to investigate the root causes
WHAT HAS CAUSED THE ISSUE WITH THE
and identify infrastructure and/or rolling stock
WORN TRACKS?
solutions.
In 2019 we received additional funding from
Rail track becomes worn over time as a result
the Government that enabled us to take a more
of usage, in the same way that road surfaces
intensive approach to resolving this.
deteriorate.
Immediate actions included enhanced track
One particular type of damage, Rolling Contact
inspections and accelerated replacement of rail
Fatigue (RCF), has become increasingly prevalent
around the network, additional rail grinding and
on the Auckland metro rail network. It occurs when
the introduction of new testing technology to
the stress created by contact between rail and the
detect the extent of the issue.
rolling wheel of a train causes the rail to develop
cracks, and those cracks to grow.
WHY HAS IT SUDDENLY BECOME
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY AND FIX IT?
URGENT?
We use a range of techniques to identify the issue,
New testing introduced over the last six months
including regular visual inspections and non-
- Eddy Current Testing and Phased Array
destructive testing methods to locate damaged rail.
Testing - has provided KiwiRail a much greater
understanding of the extent of the fatigue
Resurfacing the surface of the rail with a specialist
problems on the Auckland network.
grinding machine removes the shallower cracks.
However, once cracks become deeper the rail
Eddy Current Testing finds the locations of
needs to be replaced.
RCF and Phased Array Testing, an ultra-sonic
test of the rails, is used to confirm the depth
and severity of the cracks. This has shown us
IS THIS PRESENT ELSEWHERE ON THE
that issues are more widespread than initially
NATIONAL RAIL NETWORK?
understood.
Our tests across the national network have found
only isolated instances of RCF on other high use
HAVE YOU BEEN GRINDING THE RAIL TO
Work done in a 14-day track closure could take
PREVENT THESE CRACKS GETTING TO THE more than 100 days if done piecemeal at night
and over weekends.
POINT THAT THE RAIL NEEDS REPLACING?
KiwiRail and Auckland Transport have taken these
We have carried out rail grinding on the Auckland
factors into account. We recognise weekday track
rail network in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
closures will be disruptive for rail passengers,
Earlier this year we procured a further rail
however this approach means the work will be
grinding programme with specialist suppliers. The
completed and normal operations resumed in
equipment is already on its way from Australia and the shortest time frame, thus minimising overall
should be in New Zealand by the end of August.
disruption for commuters and those living and
working alongside the rail corridor.
WHEN WILL YOU DO THE WORK – WILL
THERE BE EVEN MORE DISRUPTION FOR
WHY ARE YOU PUTTING IN SPEED
COMMUTERS?
RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE
NETWORK IF ONLY 100 KMS NEED WORK?
Work to maintain and repair train tracks can only
be done when no trains are running. With trains
Speed restrictions are put in place in areas where
operating on Auckland’s metro network from early
we know there is damage to the track so trains
morning until late in the evening, careful planning
can operate safely until repairs can be carried out.
is needed to schedule access for track works.
These are at multiple locations spread across the
network and speed restrictions change frequently
Usually the track is closed at nights and over
as damaged areas are identified and subsequently
weekends when fewer people are using the
repaired.
trains. While this pattern of closures will continue,
the scale of work required will mean extended
This changing landscape of restrictions makes
track closures will also be put in place. This will
it challenging for a rail operator to run services
enable us to get the work done more quickly and
that continue to meet their timetable. A blanket
efficiently so we can return the network to normal
speed restriction will allow for a new timetable to
operations.
be developed that can remain in place regardless
of where and whether new areas of damage are
located.
WHY ARE YOU CLOSING THE TRACKS
FOR THESE EXTENDED PERIODS - CAN’T
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IN
THE WORK BE DONE AT NIGHT OR AT
DELIVERING COMMUTER RAIL SERVICES IN
WEEKENDS WHEN THERE IS NO IMPACT ON AUCKLAND?
WEEKDAY COMMUTERS?
• Auckland Transport – specifies and procures
Work done during shorter track closures is
the commuter service; owns and maintains the
significantly less productive than during longer
trains and the stations.
ones.
• KiwiRail – owns and manages the network;
This is because of the time needed to bring people
maintains the network to agreed levels of
and equipment onto site to set up each time the
service to enable delivery of the commuter
track is closed, and the need to return the track to
service specified by Auckland Transport.
a fit state for train operations every time the track is
re-opened.
• Transdev – delivers the service on behalf of
AT – eg. train drivers, on board staff, customer
With an extended track closure we can follow
communication.
more productive and efficient processes in the
sequencing of tasks and deployment of equipment • CAF – supplies and maintains the rolling stock
and personnel.
on behalf of Auckland Transport.
