Low-cost ideas for expanding Te Huia's ridership
Could these budget-friendly solutions expand Te Huia’s rail service's reach?
Following an independent review, the Waikato Regional Council recently announced plans to begin several initiatives to improve Te Huia within its start-up period. Among these initiatives, one key action is for staff to collaborate with the Waikato District Council to explore low-cost options for additional stations along Te Huia’s route.
Several locations along Te Huia’s current route could potentially support new stations, such as Tuakau, Pokeno, Te Kauwhata, and Ngaruawahia. New Zealand has long embraced a “number 8 wire” mentality, and it’s time to apply that ingenuity to expand Te Huia’s passenger catchment areas.
Some potential station sites, like Tuakau and Te Kauwhata, already have remnants of historic infrastructure, such as platform edging, which would simplify station construction. However, other sites, like Pokeno and Ngaruawahia, lack any existing infrastructure and would require entirely new builds to accommodate Te Huia and other trains.
Tuakau Station
At the site of the former Tuakau Train Station, the station building has been removed, and the area has become overgrown. However, the platform edging remains in place. To reconnect the platform with the growing town, a footpath or ramp could be constructed starting from the George Street level crossing, linking up to the former platform area. This area could then be cleared of grass and dirt and finished with basic asphalt.
An alternative entrance to the station could be established with a mid-platform level crossing off Liverpool Street.
Te Kauwhata Station
The Te Kauwhata Station is in better condition than Tuakau, with most of the platform intact, including the finish. A path connecting the existing Te Kauwhata Village Green level crossing to the platform area could be established, similar to the approach at Tuakau.
Pokeno, Ngaruawahia and beyond
For new station builds like Pokeno or Ngaruawahia, KiwiRail and councils often use precast concrete platform edging, backfilled with dirt and topped with asphalt. However, there may be faster and cheaper alternatives.
The recently completed Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive - Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai Boardwalks were constructed using lightweight steel screw piles, finished with various materials. These boardwalks have a wood subframe, wooden railings, and a slip-resistant metal surface, which could be a cost-effective solution for new stations at Pokeno, Ngaruawahia, or elsewhere on the rail network.
Another budget-friendly option is scaffold framing, which has been used on the Sunshine Coast for several years. These platforms are scaffold structures topped with plywood decks.
One final option is a steel beam cast in a concrete base, topped with a precast concrete surface. This method has been successfully used to extend platforms and build new ones.
Accessibility and Amenities
Te Huia is equipped with an accessible lift that should be able to reach the platform. For lighting, simple solar-powered lights on concrete blocks would likely suffice. These lights may already be available through the council and could be repurposed for this project.
For sun and rain coverage, bus shelters could be installed at minimal cost, requiring little maintenance. Alternatively, a shipping container could be used as a platform shelter, as was done during the Middlemore Station rebuild.
As you can see there is a range of options available to construct a low-cost station that could be assembled very quickly and increase Te Huia’s ridership from these growing towns.
The Council's estimated cost for these stations are $9.23M for Pokeno, $6.39M for Tuakau, and $7.42M for Te Kauwhata (Page 54 of the agenda for the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee 25 Aug 2023 [1]). Those costs include grade separated access to the platforms, and a park and ride facility for Pokeno.
It would be great to see the council push ahead with a low cost option, as you have suggested, in order to get *something* operational within the trial period. A cheap and quick option will be a lot better than one that never comes.
[1] https://waikatorc.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FutureProofAdministration/EdYgXkweCFpAmnWWgHWPB2UBlaAtRdi2qe_4E_LhsXTNiA?e=Zk46Ko