Good afternoon Harriet

We acknowledge receipt of the below Official Information Act 1982 request.

Under the Act, KiwiRail has up to 20 working days from the date of receiving your request to respond. Therefore, you can expect a response on or before 20 July 2017.

We will be in touch with you if it is necessary to clarify any aspect of your request.

Regards,
Official Correspondence Unit

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Good afternoon Harriet

We have reviewed your request and found that the scope is too broad and would result in large research and collation. Accordingly, we ask that you redefine the scope, for instance by identifying the particular information you would like that is specifically related to each point. It would also be helpful if the timeframe was defined to say, the last year.

Please advise if you wish to redefine. Otherwise, we will regard this request as refused under s18(f) of the Act.

We apologise for the delay in asking you to redefine.

Regards,
Official Correspondence Unit

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Good afternoon Harriet,

 

We refer to your request for information dated 22 June 2017 in which you
ask for:

 

1.       Marsden Point Rail Link (Upper North Island Freight Story
mentions KiwiRail to develop a business case with estimate of $160m)

2.       Capacity improvements (Gauge clearance work required in 10 of 13
tunnels plus some bridge strengthening)

3.       Enhancement works to 12km section (North Island Main Trunk)

4.       East Coast Main Trunk crossing loops and double tracking to
Kaimai tunnel portal

5.       Construction of sections of double tracking (North Island Main
Trunk north of Hamilton)

6.       Port of Tauranga increasing rail capacity

7.       Reverse sensitivities and CBD level crossings need addressing at
local level

8.       Triple Tracking of the Port - Westfield section of NIMT (Is this
also still planned as not sure in ATAP unless mix of projects)

 

We also refer to your subsequent email dated 19 July 2017 in which you
have clarified your request as outlined below.

 

Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).

 

1.       Marsden Point Rail Link

Could any business case for the Marsden Point Rail Link please be released
to me?

KiwiRail has not completed a business case for the Marsden Point Rail
Link, therefore no information within scope of the question exists, s18(e)
of the Act applies.

 

Has any preliminary design for the Marsden Point Rail Link be done & if so
could it be released to me?

KiwiRail has not conducted any preliminary design for the Marsden Point
Rail Link of the railway.  However, in 2008 a designation was obtained by
Ontrack.  This information is publically available from the Whangarei
District Council.

 

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

KiwiRail does not have a timeframe for this project as it is not part of
our current programme.

 

2.       North Auckland Line

What are the tunnels that need to be upgraded for Hicube operation & is
there any indicative costing?

The tunnels that would need to be upgraded for Hicube operation on the
North Auckland line are:

·         tunnel 2

·         tunnel 3

·         tunnel 4

·         tunnel 5

·         tunnel 7

·         tunnel 8

·         tunnel 10

·         tunnel 11

·         tunnel 13

 

The cost estimate to upgrade these tunnels for Hicube operation is in the
region of $50m-$60m.  KiwiRail would need to undertake a much more
detailed investigation to determine the specific costings for each tunnel.

 

What would be the estimated cost to remove the speed restrictions on the
NAL?

There is no plan to upgrade the overall condition of the line therefore we
are unable to provide an estimated cost to remove the speed restrictions.

 

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

This project is not in our current project programme.

 

3.       Enhancement works to 12km section (North Island Main Trunk)

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

The enhancement works at 12km section is the double tracking of the
remaining section of single track between Hamilton and Auckland.

 

The main single track section is between Te Kauwhata (591km) and Amokura
(605km) through an area known as the Whangamarino Swamp.

 

The project involves obtaining a large amount of fill to create a platform
parallel to the current track across the entire length.

 

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

The principal cost element would be earthworks and the cost is dependent
on the availability and, suitability and price of the fill for the
earthworks.

 

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

This project is not in our current project programme.

 

4.       East Coast Main Trunk crossing loops and double tracking to
Kaimai tunnel portal

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

The capacity of the East Coast Main Trunk is sufficient for current and
reasonably forecast growth.  It is possible we may have to progressively
double track further sections, but this is not in our current project
programme.

 

5.       Construction of sections of double tracking (North Island Main
Trunk north of Hamilton)

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

Please see question 3 above.

 

6.       Port of Tauranga increasing rail capacity

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

Please see question 4 above.

 

7.       Reverse sensitivities and Tauranga CBD level crossings need
addressing at local level

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

KiwiRail has not conducted any detail design or costing work at this time.

 

8.       Triple Tracking of the Port - Westfield section of NIMT

Is this still needed as it was not in ATAP?

KiwiRail has not made any decision regarding the future of this project. 
It was excluded from ATAP as KiwiRail did not consider full triple
tracking was necessary in the timeframe.  KiwiRail does however consider
some work will be necessary which is identified under the question below
and was covered in ATAP.

 

What is this project & the parts that make it up?

The elements in ATAP were:

·         creation of new entry/exit roads at Ports of Auckland (Downtown)
along Tamaki Drive

·         changes to Westfield Junction “Westfield Lite”.

 

Some of the bigger concepts for Westfield Junction show direct grade
separated connections between the Freight Yards at Westfield and Southdown
and the third NIMT track.

 

What would be the estimated cost of the project?

The Westfield Junction works are all part of a larger scheme and cannot be
reasonably separated at current levels of design.

 

What general time frame does KiwiRail intend to complete this project?

This project is not in our current project programme.

 

The projects listed would only proceed if funded by either the Crown or a
third party.  Please note that for this reason the information provided is
at a high level, is old and therefore may be out of date.

 

Under s28(3) of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and
review of this response by way of complaint to the Ombudsman. Refer to
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz for more information.

 

END

 

 

 

Regards,

Official Correspondence Unit

 

[2]Description: Description: Description: KiwiRail Logo email

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. http://www.kiwirail.co.nz/