{"id":159440,"date":"2024-12-19T08:01:29","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T22:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railexpress.com.au\/?p=118249"},"modified":"2024-12-19T08:01:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T22:01:29","slug":"major-works-in-store-for-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=159440","title":{"rendered":"Major works in store for New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image\/KiwiRail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While many Kiwis are looking forward to a well-earned summer break, KiwiRail<\/a> teams are ramping up in preparation for their busiest Christmas closure period to date.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Auckland rail<\/a> network will close from 27 December 2024 to 27 January 2025 (reopening on 28 January), to carry out critical upgrades to prepare for the faster, more frequent train services the City Rail Link will bring. Some areas will be impacted for a slightly longer period until full services run from 3 February 2024.<\/p>\n

Over the extended closure period this year, more than 1350 KiwiRail staff and contractors will be working across over 110 sites on the Auckland metro network. This will allow them to make significant progress on key upgrade projects and carry out essential work to raise the standard of the rail network.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a massive feat, getting all the moving parts together so our teams can complete the work we need to do,\u201d said Jon Knight, General Manager Metros, KiwiRail.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is part of a huge \u2018final push\u2019 to prepare for City Rail Link and ensure the metro network is ready to accommodate the increase in the number of trains. We\u2019re grateful to our people who are giving up their summer break to work round the clock to get this done while we make the most of quieter travel periods to carry out the bulk of the closures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Auckland Transport Director Public Transport and Active Modes Stacey van der Putten said the CRL is New Zealand’s largest public transport project.<\/p>\n

“Once open in 2026, there will be new and easier connections by public transport, more reliable trains, and big cuts to journey times,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rail upgrade work happening during summer is critical to making this happen, but we know having the rail network closed is frustrating for customers. We’re working hard to keep Auckland moving. During rail closures, trains will be replaced with buses,\u00a0including express\u00a0services across the entire network, ensuring people can still get where they need to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Rail Link Ltd\u2019s Systems Director Wayne Cooney explains: \u201cGetting ready for City Rail Link\u2019s passengers in 2026 requires a wide range of upgrades and renewals of Auckland\u2019s rail network, in addition to fitting out new stations, and integrating, testing and commissioning of new systems. We ask Aucklanders to bear with us: It will be worth the wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Where KiwiRail is working<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the summer rail closures KiwiRail will be delivering essential work across a number of rail projects. These include:<\/p>\n