Auckland Railway electrification
Encyclopedia
The Auckland railway electrification has been proposed for several decades, but physical works only began in the late 2000s. After investment into new infrastructure and improved services created massive patronage gains on Auckland's (diesel-train) commuter rail network in the middle 2000s, the long-discussed railway electrification system
project was finally funded (though still with a few false starts) from a combination of regional (Auckland Regional Council
) and Crown (national) budgets.
The contract for electrification was awarded on 14 January 2010 to an Australian and New Zealand consortium, while the manufacture of the 57 trains selected for the system was awarded on 6 October 2011 to a Spanish manufacturer.
and Papakura in the south and Swanson in the west. Trains will be powered by 25 kV AC from overhead lines
, matching the existing system on the North Island Main Trunk line between Te Rapa
(north of Hamilton) and Palmerston North. At this stage a gap of 87.1 km (54.1 mi) between the two systems will remain. The Wellington railway electrifcation is an incompatible 1500 V DC system. ONTRACK
(New Zealand Railways Corporation) is responsible for providing the overhead wiring, as well as necessary track and signalling upgrades.
About 3,500 masts will be installed over the length of the Auckland rail system.
The system will be connected to the national grid via two independent connections at Penrose and Southdown. KiwiRail says it will use less than 1% of Auckland's electricity capacity.
After the electrification, diesel trains are to be phased out from suburban services. However a small number of diesel powered trains are likely to continue to use the network providing regional and intercity services to unelectrified network areas.
In February 2010, an "industry engagement document", preceding the formal call for tenders, was published, calling for 114 electric multiple unit
s (EMUs - self-propelled rail cars). These are to be arranged into 38 three-car trains (and can be coupled together for six-car trains, the maximum Auckland's train stations can handle). The tender also included a further 13 electric locomotives (note further below that this has since changed). The likely three-car configuration would have allowed around 240 seated passengers. While the document only specified a small amount of elements at this stage, it requires a speed of 110 km/h for fully laden trains, a minimum design life of 35 years and the ability to climb the envisaged steep grades of the proposed city tunnel. The expected value of the contract is approximately $500 million.
In December 2010, there was concern that government handling of the tender for the new rolling stock could be placing the process into doubt, with 4 tenderers out of the 10 tenderer shortlist having withdrawn. One of them, Bombardier Transportation
criticised that government had initially shortlisted only four companies, to later then extend the list to 10 again - which in their view created a lack of confidence in the tendering process. Also criticised has been the fact that KiwiRail had "effectively prevented" their own rolling stock manufacturing facilities in Hillside and Lower Hutt from tendering for the contract or parts of the contract, settling for encouraging overseas tenderers to include some local component. This, together with the refusal to subsidize the local manufacturing of railway wagons, was seen as a sign that KiwiRail/Government was unwilling to support (a non-existent) New Zealand rail manufacturing industry.
In April 2011, it was confirmed that the shortlist had been reduced to only two remaining tenderers, with the contract expected to be awarded several months later. Still uncertain was the future ownership arrangement for the trains - with Auckland Transport preferring to take ownership of the trains, rather than having them be owned by KiwiRail
. The Rail & Maritime Transport Union
favoured this course, as it would ensure that they cannot be sold off by any government at a later stage. Auckland Council transport committee chairman Mike Lee also noted that it would be inappropriate that Auckland would be expected to pay back a government loan for the trains (unlike in the case of recent Wellington train purchases) - yet could end up not owning the trains despite that.
In August 2011, it was confirmed that the tender specs had been changed, for an increased number of 57 three-car EMU units (approximately 50% more than before), which would allow all lines, including the Southern Line, to be run by the EMUs - where before, the tender had assumed electric locomotive-hauled carriages for this line. With the electric locomotives dropped from the tender, the long-term maintenance costs will also be lower, and it was noted that the Southern Line rolling stock would be able to use the CBD Rail Tunnel
, which otherwise might not have been possible as locomotive-hauled carriages would not have met performance and fire rating requirements. The purchase price will include a 12-year maintenance contract for the chosen supplier.
On 6 October 2011 it was announced that Spanish rolling stock builder Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
(CAF) had been signed as the train manufacturer. Further information regarding the trains was also released at that stage, as was an artists impression of the planned new trains, resembling the Class 4000 DMUs for NI Railways, which are also built by CAF.
The tunnel under Broadway in Newmarket and the Parnell Tunnel
were amongst the first of about 40 structures straddling the Auckland rail network which needed modifications before electric trains can start running between Papakura and Swanson by 2013 earliest.Other tunnels where tracks are being lowered include the Purewa Tunnel
on the Eastern Line.
The electrification program will go hand in hand with a $90 million upgrade to the railway signaling system in Auckland.
Electrification works may go in tandem with construction of a new Parnell Train Station
.
In mid 2011, it was announced that the funding arrangements for the rolling stock purchase also included the costs of constructing a depot (with the location yet to be defined).
However, the Fifth National
Government cancelled the proposed regional fuel tax, with the electrification now fully to be paid for by central government funds. This move has been heavily criticised for leaving the electrification in doubt for a time, for delaying the process of parts of the project, such as train tendering, and for wresting control over Auckland public transport into Wellington's hands.
In late 2009, central government finally confirmed that $500 milion in loans would be extended to KiwiRail
to enable it to proceed with tendering for the new rolling stock
, a process that the cancellation of the fuel tax had interrupted by at least half a year. The fact that the money was only a loan, with no means provided for Auckland or KiwiRail to raise extra funds to repay it (as was intended to be done with the regional fuel tax) was criticised strongly in Auckland, as such an arrangement would mean that Auckland would pay for the trains, yet not own them.
In mid 2011, after long negotiations between Auckland Council
/ Auckland Transport on one side, and the government on the other, it was declared that the trains would become owned by Auckland after all, with Auckland paying approximately half of the cost from rates (as well as also paying track access charges per year to KiwiRail
and any potential purchase price increases as the winning tenderer is finalised).
Announced on May 17, 2007 that electrification of Auckland's rail network would proceed, changes will include installation of overhead wires, with the project projected to be complete in 2013.
2008, Regional fuel tax law passed
On July 3, 2008 a law was passed allowing regional fuel taxes to fund large capital projects. The tax of up to 10c a litre when fully implemented would have been limited to 2c in 2009 and 5c a litre in 2010. The National Party criticised the funding mechanism.
2009, Regional fuel tax cancelled
Before the regional fuel tax could be raised, a change in national government occurred, and the incoming National government decided to cancel the fuel tax in early 2009, though electrification was still to be funded.
2009, Government funding confirmed
In November 2009, government confirmed $500 million in loans to Kiwirail to allow the interrupted purchasing process for the electric rolling stock to continue. [Note that this was later clarified as a loan that Auckland would have to repay - now without having a mechanism to fund the extra cost. After negotiations between central and local government, this was later somewhat reduced in severity by government providing somewhat over half of the purchase cost as a subsidy, though with the rest still to be paid by rates money.]
2010, Electrification contract awarded
On 14 January 2010 KiwiRail
announced that it has awarded the contract for Auckland's rail electrification to a joint New Zealand and Australian consortium. Hawkins Infrastructure, a division of New Zealand company Hawkins Construction and Laing O'Rourke of Australia won the NZ$80 million contract to build the overhead electrical wires for the network.
2011, Train manufacture contract awarded
On 6 October 2011, CAF
was confirmed as the successful tenderer, to provide 57 electric EMUs with three carriages each, for an approximate sum of $400 million.
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
project was finally funded (though still with a few false starts) from a combination of regional (Auckland Regional Council
Auckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989...
) and Crown (national) budgets.
The contract for electrification was awarded on 14 January 2010 to an Australian and New Zealand consortium, while the manufacture of the 57 trains selected for the system was awarded on 6 October 2011 to a Spanish manufacturer.
Power supply
The plan is electrify the rail system between BritomartBritomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
and Papakura in the south and Swanson in the west. Trains will be powered by 25 kV AC from overhead lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
, matching the existing system on the North Island Main Trunk line between Te Rapa
Te Rapa
Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand.Stretching in a long, thin north-south axis, Te Rapa is home to a large number of factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world...
(north of Hamilton) and Palmerston North. At this stage a gap of 87.1 km (54.1 mi) between the two systems will remain. The Wellington railway electrifcation is an incompatible 1500 V DC system. ONTRACK
OnTrack
OnTrack was a regional rail line that operated in Syracuse, New York from 1994 to 2007. During its operation, Syracuse was the smallest city in the United States to have regional train service. The line ran from Colvin Street on the city's south side via Syracuse University and Armory Square to the...
(New Zealand Railways Corporation) is responsible for providing the overhead wiring, as well as necessary track and signalling upgrades.
About 3,500 masts will be installed over the length of the Auckland rail system.
The system will be connected to the national grid via two independent connections at Penrose and Southdown. KiwiRail says it will use less than 1% of Auckland's electricity capacity.
Rolling stock
The decision to electrify the Auckland network was partly created by the aging diesel train fleet which must be replaced. The Auckland Regional Transport Authority subsequently also established that electric trains will be cheaper to run long-term. Around the world, cities with high-frequency metropolitan passenger rail services also use electric trains, partly because their quieter operation, faster travel between stations and greater environmental benefits.After the electrification, diesel trains are to be phased out from suburban services. However a small number of diesel powered trains are likely to continue to use the network providing regional and intercity services to unelectrified network areas.
In February 2010, an "industry engagement document", preceding the formal call for tenders, was published, calling for 114 electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s (EMUs - self-propelled rail cars). These are to be arranged into 38 three-car trains (and can be coupled together for six-car trains, the maximum Auckland's train stations can handle). The tender also included a further 13 electric locomotives (note further below that this has since changed). The likely three-car configuration would have allowed around 240 seated passengers. While the document only specified a small amount of elements at this stage, it requires a speed of 110 km/h for fully laden trains, a minimum design life of 35 years and the ability to climb the envisaged steep grades of the proposed city tunnel. The expected value of the contract is approximately $500 million.
In December 2010, there was concern that government handling of the tender for the new rolling stock could be placing the process into doubt, with 4 tenderers out of the 10 tenderer shortlist having withdrawn. One of them, Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
criticised that government had initially shortlisted only four companies, to later then extend the list to 10 again - which in their view created a lack of confidence in the tendering process. Also criticised has been the fact that KiwiRail had "effectively prevented" their own rolling stock manufacturing facilities in Hillside and Lower Hutt from tendering for the contract or parts of the contract, settling for encouraging overseas tenderers to include some local component. This, together with the refusal to subsidize the local manufacturing of railway wagons, was seen as a sign that KiwiRail/Government was unwilling to support (a non-existent) New Zealand rail manufacturing industry.
In April 2011, it was confirmed that the shortlist had been reduced to only two remaining tenderers, with the contract expected to be awarded several months later. Still uncertain was the future ownership arrangement for the trains - with Auckland Transport preferring to take ownership of the trains, rather than having them be owned by KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
. The Rail & Maritime Transport Union
Rail & Maritime Transport Union
The Rail & Maritime Transport Union is a trade union in New Zealand. It represents transport workers in all aspects of the transport industry; rail, road and ports....
favoured this course, as it would ensure that they cannot be sold off by any government at a later stage. Auckland Council transport committee chairman Mike Lee also noted that it would be inappropriate that Auckland would be expected to pay back a government loan for the trains (unlike in the case of recent Wellington train purchases) - yet could end up not owning the trains despite that.
In August 2011, it was confirmed that the tender specs had been changed, for an increased number of 57 three-car EMU units (approximately 50% more than before), which would allow all lines, including the Southern Line, to be run by the EMUs - where before, the tender had assumed electric locomotive-hauled carriages for this line. With the electric locomotives dropped from the tender, the long-term maintenance costs will also be lower, and it was noted that the Southern Line rolling stock would be able to use the CBD Rail Tunnel
Auckland city centre rail tunnel
An Auckland, New Zealand city centre / CBD rail tunnel has been proposed at various times during Auckland's history...
, which otherwise might not have been possible as locomotive-hauled carriages would not have met performance and fire rating requirements. The purchase price will include a 12-year maintenance contract for the chosen supplier.
On 6 October 2011 it was announced that Spanish rolling stock builder Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a rail equipment manufacturer based in Beasain in the Basque Country, Spain. Equipment manufactured by CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any...
(CAF) had been signed as the train manufacturer. Further information regarding the trains was also released at that stage, as was an artists impression of the planned new trains, resembling the Class 4000 DMUs for NI Railways, which are also built by CAF.
Other infrastructure
There are 31 public road crossings on the core rail network between Swanson and Pukekohe and eight others on the reopened Onehunga branch line. With electrification there is a need to safeguard crossings throughout the region and prepare for quieter and more frequent electric trains. That would include bridges or tunnels in some cases, and the closure of small suburban streets in others.The tunnel under Broadway in Newmarket and the Parnell Tunnel
Parnell Tunnel
The Parnell Tunnel is a railway tunnel under Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. It is long, and allows the Western and Southern lines coming from Newmarket Train Station to Britomart Transport Centre to pass under the Parnell Ridge before the line drops to harbour level...
were amongst the first of about 40 structures straddling the Auckland rail network which needed modifications before electric trains can start running between Papakura and Swanson by 2013 earliest.Other tunnels where tracks are being lowered include the Purewa Tunnel
Purewa Tunnel
Purewa Tunnel is a 800 m long rail tunnel on the North Island Main Trunk Railway in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located west of Glen Innes, in the suburb of Saint Johns. The tunnel is concrete-lined.- Construction :...
on the Eastern Line.
The electrification program will go hand in hand with a $90 million upgrade to the railway signaling system in Auckland.
Electrification works may go in tandem with construction of a new Parnell Train Station
Parnell Train Station
The Parnell Train Station is a planned train station in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the Auckland–Newmarket Line The Parnell Train Station is a planned train station in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the Auckland–Newmarket Line The Parnell Train Station is a...
.
In mid 2011, it was announced that the funding arrangements for the rolling stock purchase also included the costs of constructing a depot (with the location yet to be defined).
Funding
The Auckland Regional Council originally envisaged that a regional fuel tax of five cents per litre would be required to pay for new electric trains, the upgrade of other rolling stock, above track infrastructure development including rail stations and maintenance facilities, ferry terminal upgrades and other transport infrastructure including integrated smartcard ticketing, and the Council was to fund the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to buy electric trains and to operate services, and to provide stabling and maintenance facilities for the electric fleet. The infrastructure side was to be paid from national funds.However, the Fifth National
Fifth National Government of New Zealand
The Fifth National Government of New Zealand is the current government of New Zealand. It is led by Prime Minister John Key.After the 2008 general election the National Party and its allies were able to form a government, taking over from Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government. The National party...
Government cancelled the proposed regional fuel tax, with the electrification now fully to be paid for by central government funds. This move has been heavily criticised for leaving the electrification in doubt for a time, for delaying the process of parts of the project, such as train tendering, and for wresting control over Auckland public transport into Wellington's hands.
In late 2009, central government finally confirmed that $500 milion in loans would be extended to KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
to enable it to proceed with tendering for the new rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
, a process that the cancellation of the fuel tax had interrupted by at least half a year. The fact that the money was only a loan, with no means provided for Auckland or KiwiRail to raise extra funds to repay it (as was intended to be done with the regional fuel tax) was criticised strongly in Auckland, as such an arrangement would mean that Auckland would pay for the trains, yet not own them.
In mid 2011, after long negotiations between Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
/ Auckland Transport on one side, and the government on the other, it was declared that the trains would become owned by Auckland after all, with Auckland paying approximately half of the cost from rates (as well as also paying track access charges per year to KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
and any potential purchase price increases as the winning tenderer is finalised).
Timeline
2007, Electrification announcedAnnounced on May 17, 2007 that electrification of Auckland's rail network would proceed, changes will include installation of overhead wires, with the project projected to be complete in 2013.
2008, Regional fuel tax law passed
On July 3, 2008 a law was passed allowing regional fuel taxes to fund large capital projects. The tax of up to 10c a litre when fully implemented would have been limited to 2c in 2009 and 5c a litre in 2010. The National Party criticised the funding mechanism.
2009, Regional fuel tax cancelled
Before the regional fuel tax could be raised, a change in national government occurred, and the incoming National government decided to cancel the fuel tax in early 2009, though electrification was still to be funded.
2009, Government funding confirmed
In November 2009, government confirmed $500 million in loans to Kiwirail to allow the interrupted purchasing process for the electric rolling stock to continue. [Note that this was later clarified as a loan that Auckland would have to repay - now without having a mechanism to fund the extra cost. After negotiations between central and local government, this was later somewhat reduced in severity by government providing somewhat over half of the purchase cost as a subsidy, though with the rest still to be paid by rates money.]
2010, Electrification contract awarded
On 14 January 2010 KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
announced that it has awarded the contract for Auckland's rail electrification to a joint New Zealand and Australian consortium. Hawkins Infrastructure, a division of New Zealand company Hawkins Construction and Laing O'Rourke of Australia won the NZ$80 million contract to build the overhead electrical wires for the network.
2011, Train manufacture contract awarded
On 6 October 2011, CAF
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a rail equipment manufacturer based in Beasain in the Basque Country, Spain. Equipment manufactured by CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any...
was confirmed as the successful tenderer, to provide 57 electric EMUs with three carriages each, for an approximate sum of $400 million.
Stage 1
- The Southern lineSouthern Line, AucklandThe Southern Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban train services that operate between Britomart and Pukekohe via Newmarket.-Routing:...
section from OtahuhuOtahuhu Train StationOtahuhu Train Station is located on the Eastern and Southern Lines of the Auckland Railway Network. It has an island platform layout and can be reached by pedestrian overbridges from Walmsey Road Road and Titi Street...
to BritomartBritomart Transport CentreBritomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements... - The Western lineWestern Line, AucklandThe Western Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban services that operate between Britomart and Waitakere via Newmarket.-Routing:...
section between Newmarket Train StationNewmarket Train Station, AucklandNewmarket Train Station is located in the Auckland, New Zealand suburb of Newmarket, on the Southern and Western Lines of the Auckland railway network. Serving the busy commercial centre of Newmarket, the station is the second-busiest train station in Auckland, after Britomart...
and MorningsideMorningside Train StationMorningside Railway Station is on the Western Line of the Auckland Railway Network. It has an island platform and is reached from a level crossing on Morningside Drive and by an underpass from New North Road.- History :... - The Onehunga Branch Line between PenrosePenrose Train StationPenrose Station is a station in Penrose, Auckland City, on the Southern Line of the Auckland railway network. It has an island platform and is reached by an over bridge from Station Road and Great South Road. It still has its original wooden station building on the platform. There is also an...
and Onehunga.
Stage 3
- This Stage is the Southern line south from Otahuhu to PuhinuiPuhinui Train StationPuhinui Train Station is on the Southern Line of the Auckland rail network. It has an island platform, an enclosed shelter relocated from Papatoetoe station. It is accessed from Puhinui Road on both sides of the tracks via a pedestrian bridge located at the site of a former level crossing ....
, and also includes the new Manukau Rail Link.
Stage 4
- This Stage completes the Southern section from Puhinui to PapakuraPapakura Train StationPapakura Railway Station is on the Eastern and Southern Lines of the Auckland railway network.- Station Design :It features an island platform between the main lines, complete with original wooden station building and signal panel, and a suburban side platform to the west.- Services :This station...
(the line to Pukekohe will not be electrified).
Stage 5
- The final stage completes the network with the Eastern lineEastern Line, AucklandThe Eastern Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to Auckland suburban part of the North Island Main Trunk. Suburban services are operated by Veolia under the MAXX brand...
from WestfieldWestfield Train StationWestfield Train Station is located on the Eastern and Southern Lines of the Auckland Railway Network. It is near Westfield Junction, which is the junction of the Eastern and Southern Lines. It has an island platform layout and can be reached from a pedestrian overbridge at the end of Portage Road...
to Quay Park Junction
See also
- Public transport in AucklandPublic transport in AucklandPublic transport in Auckland, the largest metropolitan area of New Zealand, consists of three modes – bus, train and ferry. Services are provided under the "MAXX" brand by private transport providers, coordinated by Auckland Transport, the council controlled organisation that replaced the Auckland...
- Transport in AucklandTransport in AucklandTransport in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, is defined by various factors, among them the shape of the Auckland isthmus , the suburban character of much of the Auckland area and the large car-ownership ratio of New Zealanders.These factors have resulted in a mostly...
- Britomart Transport CentreBritomart Transport CentreBritomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
External links
- KiwiRail: Electrification of Auckland's Rail Network
- Campaign for Better Transport (private campaign for improvements to (mainly public) transport in Auckland)