Kia ora Isaac,

 

I'd like to acknowledge receipt of your official information request for
information on a North Island Electrification Study business case and, if
so, whether there any plans for track realignment in the future for this
segment.

 

We received your request on 5 June 2024 and will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 4 July
2024 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.

 

Thanks,

Shauni James  |  Communications Adviser

[1]www.kiwirail.co.nz

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Kia ora Isaac,

 

Please find the below in response to your official information request for
information on whether a business case was performed or funds had been
allocated into investigating the possibility of double tracking the
remainder of the NIMT between Auckland and Hamilton.

 

While we did not have a business case done in regard to investigating the
possibility of double tracking the remainder of the NIMT between Auckland
and Hamilton, below are some reports in relation to this topic, and some
information regarding double tracking between Auckland and Hamilton.

 

o The Ministry of Transport undertook some work to investigate Hamilton
to Auckland Connectivity in 2020. It explored some of the options for
greater use of rail and enhancements to the rail infrastructure. You
can find out more here: [1]Hamilton-Auckland Intercity Connectivity |
Ministry of Transport  

 

o There has also been an inter-organisation Programme Business Case
(PBC) completed for Auckland Metro Rail network. As it is a passenger
and freight network, both modes were considered. Further, as there are
origin-destination demands on Auckland Metro network related to the
Waikato/Bay of Plenty regions, these flows were also contemplated in
the PBC work. You can find out more here: [2]Auckland Rail Programme
Business Case | KiwiRail

 

o KiwiRail is currently undertaking investigations into decarbonising
freight operations for the Golden Triangle (between
Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga). Electrification options are being
explored, and there may be additional benefits that support regional
passenger rail opportunities.

 

o Regarding further double tracking between Auckland and Hamilton, there
are no active projects currently considering this. As with most
infrastructure investments, when there is demand (or forecast demand)
that exceeds the capacity of the network, it would be expected that
increasing the rail line’s capacity would be considered to meet
customer needs (noting that capacity improvements could be made
through a number of different ways: signalling enhancements to reduce
train headways, improvements in rolling stock/associated operations,
increasing line speed, enhancing crossing loops, double tracking,
etc).   

This release is under the OIA, and as such you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at
[3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

 

Thanks,

Shauni James  |  Communications Adviser

[4]www.kiwirail.co.nz

Please consider the environment before printing.

 

The content of this message and any attachments may be privileged or
confidential. If you
have received this email in error please notify the sender and delete the
email - unauthorised
use is expressly prohibited. This email may have been corrupted or
interfered with. KiwiRail
does not warrant that this email and its contents are free from computer
viruses or other defects.

 

References

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