Newmarket Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Auckland–Newmarket Line, or the Newmarket Branch, is a railway line in Auckland
, New Zealand
. It is 2.64 km long and runs between Quay Park Junction, near Britomart Transport Centre
, and Newmarket Train Station
. It connects the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT), which runs into Britomart via the waterfront, and the North Auckland Line, which runs between Westfield
and Otiria
via Newmarket and Whangarei
. The branch serves as part of the Southern Line
, Western Line
and Onehunga Line of the MAXX commuter network.
Since 1915 it is fully double track
ed after an upgrade of Parnell Tunnel
north of Newmarket. Previous to that, it led as a single track section through a previous Parnell Tunnel.
In 2007 the major junction that connects the Newmarket Line with the North Auckland Line (NAL) and North Auckland Line was rebuilt into a 'wye junction', removing the time consuming reversing backshunt
needed to access the NAL to the north from the Newmarket Line, thus giving the line better access to Britomart Station. This is part of a big upgrade of rail infrastructure in the Auckland area and the Newmarket Station and Junction is included in the stage one electrification of the network
.
The line is proposed to receive a new train station at Parnell
in the 2010s.
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...
. It is 2.64 km long and runs between Quay Park Junction, near Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart 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 Newmarket Train Station
Newmarket Train Station, Auckland
Newmarket 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...
. It connects the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT), which runs into Britomart via the waterfront, and the North Auckland Line, which runs between Westfield
Westfield Train Station
Westfield 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...
and Otiria
Otiria
Otiria is a rural locality in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It neighbours Moerewa to the east, with the nearest major town, Kawakawa a few kilometres further eastwards. Other nearby localities include Pokapu to the south, Orauta to the west, and Hupara to the north.-...
via Newmarket and Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
. The branch serves as part of 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:...
, Western Line
Western 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:...
and Onehunga Line of the MAXX commuter network.
Since 1915 it is fully double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
ed after an upgrade of 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...
north of Newmarket. Previous to that, it led as a single track section through a previous Parnell Tunnel.
In 2007 the major junction that connects the Newmarket Line with the North Auckland Line (NAL) and North Auckland Line was rebuilt into a 'wye junction', removing the time consuming reversing backshunt
Backshunt
* A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit.There are two main applications of a backshunt....
needed to access the NAL to the north from the Newmarket Line, thus giving the line better access to Britomart Station. This is part of a big upgrade of rail infrastructure in the Auckland area and the Newmarket Station and Junction is included in the stage one electrification of the network
Auckland Railway electrification
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 commuter rail network in the middle 2000s, the long-discussed...
.
The line is proposed to receive a new train station at Parnell
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 the 2010s.