During the significant closure, KiwiRail and AT will progress rail infrastructure upgrades and safer level crossings.
AT said this will include works on three new station bridges to replace level crossings, track renewals and progress on three new Drury stations.
“The closures also include one day of trialling Day 1 CRL operations and the future Monday to Friday timetable – the standard weekday service our rail network will be operating on when the CRL opens,” AT said.
‘One of the last major steps’
AT chief executive Stacey van der Putten said the closure would mark “one of the last major steps” before it could progress the planning for opening the CRL.
“We’re getting close to opening the CRL, and great progress is being made on the three station bridges to replace level crossings,” Van der Putten said.
“We know that a rail closure on a standard working weekday is disruptive for our customers, and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to them for their ongoing patience as we do the final checks and upgrades.”
The work will be carried out while Auckland’s rail network is closed over the Matariki weekend as well as the day prior, Thursday July 9. Photo / Michael Craig
A full programme of rail replacement buses will be available during all rail closures, as well as local regularly scheduled bus services which run at least every 15 minutes from 7am till 7pm.
Express buses for the Southern and Western Lines will also be in place and bus reliability and capacity will be monitored to make sure plenty of transport options are available.
Pedestrians are being warned that even though passenger trains are unavailable during the closure, trains will still be travelling across the network and through road and pedestrian rail level crossings.
“For your safety, always stop to check both ways for trains before crossing the tracks. Stay alert to stay safe.”
When the CRL opens, Van der Putten said Auckland’s train network will change significantly.
A new timetable will introduce three new train lines, East West, South City and Onehunga West, along with three new city stations.
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