Good morning Nial

I'd like to acknowledge receipt of your official information request for information on KiwiRail’s track rebuild work on the Papakura to Pukekohe section.

We received your request on 3 October 2023, and will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 1 November 2023, i.e. the 20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

I’ll be looking after your request, so any questions please get in touch with me at this email address, or on the number below.

Cheers
Dave

Dave Allard  | Senior Government Relations Advisor
DDI: 027 201 8182
Level 4, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 593, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

www.kiwirail.co.nz

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Good afternoon Niall.

Please find our response below.

As part of Stage 3b of the Rail Network Rebuild (RNR), drainage work is planned between Puhinui and Pukekohe.

The Puhinui – Papakura section will be done from late January into March 2024. Work will be carried out on weeknights (when Southern Line trains will need to stop running earlier than usual) and on weekends (when trains will not run on the relevant section of the Southern Line). The dates (and time for the early finishes) will be confirmed closer to the time. AT are currently planning the alternative transport options. AT will let customers know what their alternative options are via multiple channels as soon as possible to enable people to plan ahead.

Drainage improvement work Papakura - Pukekohe is planned to take place between late May and late June 2024. As you are aware, train services are not currently running on this section of line while the electrification work is being carried out.

Formation replacement between Puhinui and Pukekoke is not part of the RNR Stage 3 and further funding will be needed to complete this work. KiwiRail has been discussing future funding options directly with the government agencies and will also be talking to the relevant Ministers once the new Government is established.

At the moment it is not possible to confirm any timings for undertaking the Southern Line formation work (including in the section between Papakura and Pukekohe), the approach or level of disruption it may cause. We will be having discussions with AT about the work and how it could fit with metro services to Pukekohe starting, once we have some funding certainty. We will aim to minimise any disruption to commuters wherever possible.

Any further questions, please get in touch.

Kind regards

Dave

Dave Allard  | Senior Government Relations Advisor
DDI: 027 201 8182
Level 4, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 593, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

www.kiwirail.co.nz

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