Preparatory work in Tunnel 1 on the Northland line near Swanson. Credit: KiwiRail.

New Zealand state-owned enterprise KiwiRail has started the work to upgrade the Northland Line to boost the journey times, resilience and reliability.

The work is carried out under the NZD204.5m Provincial Growth Fund investment from the New Zealand Government.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

KiwiRail Group CEO Greg Miller said that commencement of major work to replace bridges, improve tunnels and upgrade the rail line to Whangarei will boost the services.

From 1 June, services will not be operational on the rail line between Swanson and Whangarei.

This will permit the work to commence to replace five ageing bridges and lower tracks in the 13 tunnels.

Miller said: “While our teams were able to continue design and planning work during the lockdown, Covid-19 halted most work on the ground. We’ve also been waiting on the arrival of specialist track laying equipment, which has been held up by pandemic disruptions.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“The work will be completed in stages, with the first objective being able to carry hi-cube containers through the tunnels between Whangarei and Auckland by Christmas.

“This type of work can only be done while the line is shut. I regret the inconvenience for our freight customers and thank them for their patience. Once the line is upgraded, we will be able to offer more reliable train services to better meet their needs.

“Being able to carry high-cube containers will also allow freight that can currently only come in and out of Northland by road, to instead go by rail. That additional transport option could help cut transport emissions and reduce the number of trucks on the roads.”

In June 2018, the New Zealand Government started an investigation into the potential of expanding and upgrading Northland’s rail line in the Auckland region.