New Zealand has published a draft for land transport allocating funding to transport projects, particularly rail – urban rail and suburban and regional – to make rail more attractive by supporting infrastructure modernisation projects.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport has published the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024 which targets transport investment projects to drive the modernisation and transformation of the country’s and cities’ mobility, which, in chain, will create a reliable and efficient transport system with high resilience and safety.
The draft, published in March 2024, includes investments of NZD 7 billion from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) and NZD 1.5 billion from local government, each year. It should be noted that this document is also intended to strike a balance between new investment projects and existing projects that ensure the functionality of the transport system and infrastructure.
The Government Policy Statement covers the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) investment of NZD 20 billion (USD 12.3 billion) over the next three years.
On the strategic priority of economic growth and productivity, alongside other programmes such as the reintroduction of the Roads of National Significance programme, the government, together with local authorities, will invest in major public transport projects to provide citizens with efficient and fast transport services that will reduce congestion levels, investment is also focused around rail transport, particularly on the sections of the network where the lines are the most congested and the most productive supporting freight traffic, which, together with projects on the road network, will support the achievement of an efficient and fast freight transport system.
Apart from projects defined in two cities and their metropolitan regions, the draft Government Policy Statement mentions other projects such as the Whangarei – Otiria line in Northland on the North Auckland Line which in January 2023 was heavily affected between Swanson to Whangarei by extreme weather events. Work is currently being implemented and the section could be back in service by mid 2024. Before these events took place, Kiwi Rail intended to upgrade the Northland rail system to provide fast services to and from Auckland and the rest of the country. Upgrading the system in this region will reduce emissions as much of the rail freight traffic will be taken over by the rail network. This is because official estimates show that freight volumes in Northland will increase to 23 million tonnes by 2042 and it is essential that the rail network is ready to handle such volumes. This will significantly reduce emissions and reduce the number of trucks. Kiwi Rail is working on the 180 km North Auckland Line to open in mid-2024
At national level, the Rail Network Investment Programme has been approved from 2021, which sets out projects for the maintenance, renewal and optimisation and management of the rail network until 2024. NZD 1.3 billion (USD 803 million) is the estimated value of infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation projects through this programme, part of the NZ Rail Plan.
Two important regions
According to the draft, Crown/NLTF funding for public transport has increased by 71% over the last five years i.e. since 2018, when patronage has seen a 23% drop, mainly due to restrictions imposed in the pandemic, but traffic has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The private share of public transport costs has declined during 2016-2017 and in 2022-2023, it was less than 10%.
Commuter rail transport in Auckland and Wellington results in 26 million fewer car trips a year and every tonne of freight transported by rail means 70% fewer emissions than its equivalent transported by road. In this respect, the standard of rail infrastructure and services, particularly in these two important regions for New Zealand, needs to be raised to a high standard to support attractive services and the shift of traffic from road to rail.
Funding will be allocated to mass transit networks that will provide rapid passenger transport particularly in Auckland and Wellington. The transit systems of these two cities need upgrading and expansion to provide multiple transport options and rapid services that will support mobility demand and economic growth.
Under the programme, as a priority, Auckland and Wellington’s public transport systems will benefit from investment to reduce congestion and create a sustainable transport system. Under the Government Policy Statement, over NZD 4.4 billion (USD 2.7 billion) will be allocated, of which over NZD 2.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion) for public transport services and NZD 2.1 billion (USD 1.3 billion) for public transport infrastructure over the next three years.
As part of the investment programme, the focus over the next three years will be on completing the Auckland City Rail Link and Eastern Busway projects. In addition to these projects, planning work will begin (also over the next three years) on the development of the Northwest Rapid Transit corridor in Auckland on the route between Brigham Creek and the city centre and the implementation of the Airport to Botany busway. Another project is the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility which aims to provide rail services on the Wairarapa and Manawatū lines, which are experiencing a number of problems and are not attractive.
Auckland develops urban rail system
Auckland is also basing the development of its transport system on the climate plan, adopted in 2020, which sets a target of halving emissions by 2030 to net zero by 2050, which translates into the transport system reducing its emissions by 64% by 2030. This direction explains the authorities’ plans to invest in rail and electrification projects in the transport system to meet future mobility demands.
It should be noted that the authorities’ plans take into account the population of the city and its metropolitan area. While there are now 1.72 million inhabitants, representing 34% of New Zealand’s population, this will rise to 37% by 2048. Over the next three decades, the population will increase by a further 650,000 to 2.3 million, putting increasing pressure on the transport system through different and greatly changed demands and requirements, pressure on the environment, available space, existing infrastructure and services.
The city’s rapid transit network must play a key role in addressing transport demands and fast connections on the city’s main axes to ensure mobility of high volumes of passengers to and from the city’s major centres and main areas (north, centre, west and south), as well as providing residents with facilities and services that encourage public transport over individual road transport.
For Auckland, the Draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024-2034 includes 12 transport projects, four of which are rail and urban rail. Currently, the transit and rail network in the city and its metro area provides fast, high-capacity service on corridors separated from road traffic and as a result, does not experience road traffic congestion and has a fast flow. It currently carries more than 26 million passengers a year, with traffic expected to increase due to investment in rail projects – electrification, station and line upgrades and refurbishment, and the construction of the Northern Busway.
One of these is the City Rail Link (CRL) which will more quickly and efficiently connect the city’s entire rail network resulting in more trains and faster journeys. The project involves the construction of a 3.5 km twin tunnel with four stations, infrastructure built 42 metres below Auckland’s city centre connecting the city centre via Waitematā station (Britomart) and the redeveloped Maungawhau station (on Western Line). The project also includes two underground stations with access to the city centre. The commissioning of the project will double rail capacity, increase train frequency and provide fast and efficient travel. In addition to the underground tracks, new tracks have been built at Maungawhau station to connect the City Rail Link and the Western/North Auckland Line, and a short section has been built at the eastern end of Britomart station. The project is worth NZD 5.5 billion (USD 3.4 billion) and is funded by the New Zealand Government and Auckland Council.
In February 2024, the project completed the installation of the second track, which will ensure trains run from Maungawhau station at Eden Terrace and connect to the two central stations Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu and Britomart station downtown. The southern section of the City Rail Link was completed in 2023.
The completion of the construction of the two tracks means entering a new phase of the project, that of testing the trains and infrastructure, equipping the stations, as well as rehabilitating and redesigning the station environment, checking the signalling, electrification and safety systems, etc. After rigorous checks and tests, the services will be inaugurated and are expected to be operational from November 2025.
“There’s plenty to celebrate for our project teams, and for Aucklanders. Completing the two tracks brings us one big step closer to the next phase of the project – testing trains inside the tunnels mid-year, and from there handing CRL over next year to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail, who will operate and maintain it,” Dr Sean Sweeney, Chief Executive for City Rail Link Ltd said.
Link Alliance is the main contractor, who together with Martinus New Zealand installed the tracks. Link Alliance includes six international and New Zealand companies, three of which were responsible for the design part and the others for the construction part.
The GPS includes another rail project, involving the construction of a third main line on the Wiri – Quay Park route that will separate passenger and freight train movements. In 2020, Kiwi Rail and Downer signed a contract for the construction of the third line on the Wiri – Quay Park route which will increase the capacity and resilience of Auckland’s rail infrastructure and relays. According to Downer, the first of the four construction packages is complete and the second is in the completion stage, the fourth is 65% complete while the third package, which is in the pre-construction stage in 2023, is expected to start work. The project is estimated to be completed in 2026.
Drury Rail Stations is another project in Auckland supported by the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) and consists of the construction of three new stations between Papakura (south Auckland) and Pukekohe and would be built in Drury, Drury West and Paerātā. According to the project fiche, the works would be completed in 2025.
Kiwi Rail is implementing the 19 km Papakura – Pukekohe electrification project, which has secured government funding of NZD 371 million (USD 229.19 million) including infrastructure upgrades, signalling systems and level crossings.
Wellington regional network improved
New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, needs more rail services, with high frequency and modernised infrastructure. In addition to projects to create new bus corridors, the government is funding Kiwi Rail to implement projects including in the city’s metropolitan area for improved connectivity.
Together with the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Kiwi Rail is implementing the Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme, part of Future Rail, which has allocated NZD 700 million (USD 432.4 million) for works to upgrade and rehabilitate rail infrastructure and optimise capacity in order to increase train frequency and provide faster services. This is supported by upgrading lines and facilities, installing new traction systems and building new lines or tracks.
This programme includes the Wairarapa Line rehabilitation project which started in 2021 and will be completed in 2028 when it will reduce the number of trucks on the road infrastructure and add capacity to the rail network. So far 59 km of track has been renewed, including the Maoribank tunnel (572 metres), replacing drainage systems in two tunnels and replacing three old bridges that had outlived their useful life. For the renewal part, a further 8.8 km, i.e. the Remutaka Tunnel, is to be renewed to provide 60 km/h train movements.
The Kapiti Line upgrade included rehabilitation work on infrastructure, facilities and stations, signalling systems and catenary system installation and the construction of a new platform at Plimmerton station. The project is nearing completion and will provide increased capacity, safety and faster services.
As part of the Hutt Valley Line project, second track was built between Trentham and Upper Hutt, and Trentham, Wallaceville and Upper Hutt stations were upgraded, some with new pedestrian walkways, new platforms and roofs, renewed signalling systems, infrastructure improvements and other facilities, and new power supply for signalling systems. In late 2021, the second track between Trentham and Upper Hutt stations was commissioned, 2.7 km of new track and overhead power system was constructed, stations received improvements and level crossings were upgraded.
As of 2021, Johnsonville Line benefits from overhead line equipment, and the installation of a new traction system required the installation of new structures and systems to create additional capacity. Optimizations along the line have included electrification system replacements, tunnel upgrades, track renewals, grade crossing rehabilitation (between Raroa and Johnsonville) and other work.
In the Wellington region, by 2026, the rail network should benefit from the replacement of all over-aged tracks, the installation of more traction substations to support increased regional train frequencies, which, together with the renewal of the signalling and power supply system and overhead power supply systems, will increase traffic and the attractiveness of rail transport.
But additional investment is needed. According to a report by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, a report highlights the problem of the region’s rail underfunding and delays in infrastructure maintenance upgrade and renewal programs that. If they are not addressed quickly and effectively, there is a risk of significant downsizing and the potential shutdown of rail services. “We believe there’s an immediate shortfall of around USD 1 billion which threatens to cut services in the next one to three years. If some of the funding can’t be found in the next few months, KiwiRail has warned of a growing risk that passenger services may be forced to operate on a reduced timetable,” Daran Ponter, Chair of Greater Wellington said.
According to the Wellington Strategic Rail Plan (for three decades), ratified in November 2023 by the NZ Transport Agency Board, an investment of around NZD 5 – 7.8 billion (USD 3 – 4.8 billion) is required to rehabilitate and upgrade Wellington’s rail network to modern standard, to provide fast and connected transport services not only within the region but also with the whole New Zealand rail network.
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