Avondale - Southdown Line
Encyclopedia
The Avondale–Southdown Line is a proposed railway line between Avondale
and Southdown
in Auckland
, New Zealand
. One of its main functions would be to remove north–south freight trains from the section of the Auckland rail system that has most passenger traffic.
just east of Avondale Train Station
with the Southern Line
at Auckland Freight Centre, Southdown. The recent decision to reopen the Onehunga Branch may make it more feasible for the line to connect with that branch in Onehunga township. ONTRACK
owns most of the corridor for the line, which follows Oakley Creek
and part of the State Highway 20
corridor. The SH20 extension from Hillsborough
to Mount Roskill
made provision for the line's construction. The line would cross over the entrance to the proposed SH20 Waterview Connection
. KiwiRail has reached an agreement with the NZTA over a land swap needed for a realignment of the highway and railway corridors.
Another proposal exists to connect the Onehunga Branch at Galway Street to the Avondale–Southdown line by building a tunnel under Onehunga Mall to meet Hugh Watt Drive (State Highway 20) before connecting to the proposed route at Hillsborough.
Avondale, Auckland
Avondale is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located in the Whau ward, one of the thirteen administrative divisions for the Auckland Council. It is commonly considered to be part of West Auckland. It was originally called "Te Whau", which is the common name, of Māori origin, for Entelea...
and Southdown
Southdown, New Zealand
Southdown is an industrial suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand. The former main company in the suburb was the Southdown Freezing Works, part of a large industrial zone located near the main trunk railway at this point...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. One of its main functions would be to remove north–south freight trains from the section of the Auckland rail system that has most passenger traffic.
Proposals
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority's Rail Development Plan 2006 includes the line in its long-term vision for Auckland's rail network, but there has been little development work on the project, and it may not be completed until 2030. It is currently envisaged that the line is most likely to be built between 2031–2040.Route
The line would connect the Western LineWestern Line, Auckland
The Western Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban services that operate between Britomart and Waitakere via Newmarket.-Routing:...
just east of Avondale Train Station
Avondale Train Station
Avondale Railway Station is on the Western Line of the Auckland railway network. The proposed Avondale–Southdown Line would connect to the Western Line just east of the station.- History :...
with the Southern Line
Southern Line, Auckland
The Southern Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban train services that operate between Britomart and Pukekohe via Newmarket.-Routing:...
at Auckland Freight Centre, Southdown. The recent decision to reopen the Onehunga Branch may make it more feasible for the line to connect with that branch in Onehunga township. 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...
owns most of the corridor for the line, which follows Oakley Creek
Oakley Creek
Oakley Creek is a creek in Auckland, New Zealand. While heavily human-modified , it has a number of important ecological features, such as having the former Auckland City's only natural waterfall .The least...
and part of the State Highway 20
Southwest Motorway
State Highway 20, also known as either the Southwestern Motorway, or the Mangere Motorway, is a New Zealand State Highway linking State Highway 1 at Manukau City Centre with Mount Roskill, via Mangere and Onehunga...
corridor. The SH20 extension from Hillsborough
Hillsborough, Auckland
Hillsborough is an Auckland, New Zealand suburb.Hillsborough is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council. According to the 2001 census, Hillsborough has a population of 9912....
to Mount Roskill
Mount Roskill, New Zealand
Mount Roskill is both a volcanic peak and the suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand.- Mountain :The peak, which is to the southwest end of the suburb, is 110 metres in height, and is one of the many extinct cones which dot the isthmus of Auckland, all of which are part of the Auckland...
made provision for the line's construction. The line would cross over the entrance to the proposed SH20 Waterview Connection
SH20 Waterview Connection
The Waterview Connection is a planned motorway section which will form part of the Western Ring Route through Auckland, New Zealand. It is to connect the stub of State Highway 20 in the south from Mt Roskill to join up with another motorway, State Highway 16 in the west at Point Chevalier, and is a...
. KiwiRail has reached an agreement with the NZTA over a land swap needed for a realignment of the highway and railway corridors.
Another proposal exists to connect the Onehunga Branch at Galway Street to the Avondale–Southdown line by building a tunnel under Onehunga Mall to meet Hugh Watt Drive (State Highway 20) before connecting to the proposed route at Hillsborough.