Weekly Review No.45
This week, Wellington’s Cable Car undergoes its annual maintenance, KiwiRail unveils a new track inspection vehicle and the Wynyard ferry gets an extension.
From bus to train to ferry we have you covered in the news that happened in the week that was with the NZ Transit Buzz Weekly Review.
As always you can keep yourself updated by following our Twitter/X for real-time transport news updates.
KiwiRail has unveiled its new Automated Track Inspection System (ATIS) vehicle for the Auckland Metro Network, the ATIS is equipped with inspection systems positioned around the vehicle to assess the condition of the track and electrical network, the unit had been under test at Glenbrook Vintage Railway’s Pukeoware workshop.
Christchurch Tramway’s Tram 1888 has returned to the city after maintenance work was completed at Ferrymead, Tram 15 has been transported to Ferrymead to undergo maintenance and will return to the tracks in a month or two.
The Eke Panuku Board confirmed a temporary floating pontoon crossing for Wynyard Quarter will be replaced with a more cost-effective and better alternative, an extended Red Boats ferry service.
Kainga Ora nixed an 80-100 unit development at Dunedin’s bus depot site after discovering it sat on contaminated ground, the Otago Daily Times can reveal.
Hot, crowded and slow: Why the lower North Island needs 18 new trains.
Waikato District Council are installing upgraded lighting and more CCTV on the rail/pedestrian bridge in Huntly, Bridge users may experience some delays while works are underway, works begin on July 29 and is expected to be completed by August 16.
The New Zealand bus industry is leading the way in the nation’s net-zero transition, but what else can be done to support this trend?
City Rail Link & Fire and Emergency have conducted handheld radio coverage tests from street level down into the CRL tunnels.
During the trial, they deployed a portable radio repeater device on Te Waihorotiu Station’s platform. This device received the radio signal from the streetside command unit and retransmitted it to firefighters positioned further up the tunnel structure, CRL has said the trial was a success.
KiwiRail has completed essential upgrades near Greymouth, crews worked 24/7 over four days to install a 110-meter-long and 7-meter-tall embankment complete with new drainage systems to facilitate a new runaway road.
City Rail Link has livened the second high-voltage permanent power source for Karanga-a-Hape Station, the connection comes in the form of a 1.2km long 22kV power cable running through one of the tunnels from Maungawhau Station.
From Friday, 26 July MyWay by Metro will run until 8 pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
Taranaki Public Transport (TPT) is reminding riders to have their fare with them as a number of riders are repeatedly taking advantage of the "No Person Left Behind" policy.
TPT has adjusted the policy, passengers will get one free (return) ride and a friendly warning card from the driver, If they forget to pay again, they won't be able to board.
Life Pharmacy at Pakuranga Plaza is closing its doors after almost 50 years and merging with Unichem Pharmacy in Cortina Place due to factors including disruption from construction work for the Eastern Busway project.
Works on the Western Powerfeed near Glen Eden station have been progressing well, crews have been pouring concrete bases at the eastern end of the site, at the western end of the site a number of diggers have been digging ditches and laying conduit, several steel beams have been delivered to site to support the new overhead line infrastructure.
The arrival of an Uber-like ride-sharing bus service in Tauranga has been described as “wonderful” and “fantastic” by passengers, including one with a spinal injury who says they now have their life back.
Mainfreight has again criticised the move to cancel the Cook Strait ferry project and is miffed why it was left out of decision-making on the issue.
Kiwi Rail is replacing an old South Island main trunk railway timber trestle rail bridge spanning the Waikouaiti River, the old bridge probably dates back to the early 20th century or earlier.
Ahead of trains returning to the northern end of Middlemore Station on Monday, July 29 crews have been connecting the existing platform to the rebuilt platform, a new entrance path has been built near the base of the new staircase with HOP tag on/off posts installed.
The lower section of the new staircase has been installed, the upper section of stairs and new bridge connection are sitting alongside the new platform and will be installed shortly.
One of the temporary shelters has been relocated from the southern end to the northern end of the platform as the new platform structure’s roof is yet to be installed, a barrier has been installed near the end of the temporary platform to prevent people from entering the area, this section of platform will be removed to allow for the third main to be installed connecting the two existing track sections north and south of the station.
Wellington’s Cable Car (WCC) annual maintenance period kicked off on Monday morning with the service suspended until August 4, WCC has shared photos and videos of the crane which is onsite assisting the annual maintenance period, the crane assisted with removing the lower bogie of one of the cars.
Pensioners may have to start forking out for peak time travel on Te Huia as the service tries to claw back more of its costs, support for Te Huia to call at Pukekohe station when it re-opens is also being sought.
The future of a historic Taihape rail turntable has been preserved as ownership has been handed from Taihape’s Rotary Club to the Feilding and Districts Stream Rail Society.
City Rail Link has released a video on the Karanga-a-Hape Station cable-pulling operation and explained the purpose of the cables and why they are vital to the new station
City Rail Link has shared a third render of the plaza behind Waitematā Station (Britomart), the render shows the area as seen from Tyler Street looking toward Galway Street.
East By West Ferries' Ika Rere is in dry-dock at Seaview Marina for a midterm survey inspection, East By West Ferries will still run their full timetable with two diesel ferries.
The future of KiwiRail hangs in the balance as the Government considers whether it should still run the Interislander Cook Strait ferry business.
Christchurch City Council is asking the local community for its preference on how the city’s Cranford Street’s peak-hour lanes should be used, the choices include bus lanes, clearways for all traffic, or T2 lanes.
After years of New Plymouth city bus services being controlled by the Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District councillors look set to get a formal say in how their public transport is run.
Auckland Transport has suffered a setback in its plans to improve ferry services to Beachlands.
The overhead line equipment on platform 1 has been shortened again to near the Waitematā Station (Britomart) lift shafts with the overhead line from the existing network terminating near the first billboard.
On platform 4 the existing overhead has been shortened to the start of the second billboard, mounting hardware for new overhead line equipment support brackets have been installed as well as new support brackets, there is no overhead line visible inside the new tunnel.
The Te Waihorotiu Station newsletter for July 2024 has been released, and utility connections outside the station building are being dug, Inside the station, fit-out works inside the Victoria Street entrance are continuing, and Inside the passenger concourse level, the fit-out is now over 90% complete, on the platform, the laying of the terrazzo paving has begun and the porcelain cladding of the platform-concourse escalator service rooms is now mostly complete.
City Rail Link is in the process of testing and commissioning 19 lifts and 36 escalators across Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu stations, Auckland One Rail is doing hands-on training and theory with Schindler Group to learn how to respond to and fix issues.
KiwiRail has shared images of the recently reopened northern end of Middlemore Station as deconstruction work starts on the southern end of the platform, KiwiRail says the third main is due to open early next year.
Spotted by @sbaker1428 on X/Twitter, the Symphony Centre has released new renders of the laneway between Te Waihorotiu Station and Bledisloe House, the Symphony Centre is an above-station development located on top of the Wellesley Street entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station.
The Karanga-a-Hape Station newsletter for July 2024 has been released, at the Beresford Square entrance crews are installing ceiling battens above the 40-metre escalator, and the platforms are starting to look like the final version as crews work on the fit-out.
Above ground at Beresford Square urban realm works progressing well, throughout Karanga-a-Hape Station, commissioning works on the escalators continue.
At the Mercury Lane entrance, crews continue to install the sky element on the eastern and southern faces of the entrance building and inside the entrance, the station entrance foyer is taking shape.
KiwiRail Director Rob Jager has accepted the position of Acting Chair of KiwiRail, the term is effective from, 1 August 2024 following the retirement of Chair David McLean.
Taranaki Public Transport has shared a post to Facebook explaining the National Ticketing Solution (Motu Move), the post says they will launch the National Ticketing Solution for their buses in late 2025 or early 2026.
Six climate protesters who allegedly blocked a coal train, which inadvertently led to an excursion train being cancelled, are on trial.
City Rail Link has shared a timelapse video of the Fenton Street Bridge internal lift construction.
A temporary cover has been constructed above the Galway Street entrance to Waitematā Station (Britomart), the scaffold frame appears to be supporting a large wooden shoot from the top floors of the station building, it appears this work is unrelated to plaza works.
On the plaza itself, a small site office has been constructed and some machinery has been delivered to the site, the former fountain/skylight area has been fenced off and the pavers have been removed exposing the concrete cap that was added during the temporary station build.
The Maungawhau Station newsletter for July 2024 has been released, outside the station, Ruru Lane construction is coming along well and will connect Maungawhau Station and Mt Eden Road, CRL also shared photos of the new Korari Street roading layout, On the Western Line platform, floor and ceiling elements have been installed, and on the CRL Platform, coping stones and tactile pavers are being installed.
KiwiRail and TrackSAFE are urging people to take a good hard look for trains when approaching any rail level crossing during Rail Safety Week 2024.
After months of claims and counter-claims on the fate of $78 million destined to bring Christchurch’s public transport revamp closer to reality, the city council says the money has gone.
Having undergone a relocation, an arson attack and significant repairs, the main refurbishments at Huntly Railway Station | Raahui Pookeka are set to be completed in the coming months.
Once complete, the building will be handed over to the Huntly Museum | Te Whare Taonga O Raahui Pookeka to convert the interior, the museum is expected to open in early 2025
Rangitīkei District Council has paved the way for the development of the Marton Rail Hub by rezoning rural land for industrial use in the District Plan, the rezoning provides for 65 hectares of land located south of Marton Railway Station (located between the railway line, Makirikiri Road and State Highway 1) for industrial development.