Subscribe to RSSRail Work Closes Rd
Busy Morningside Drive at the New North Rd end is closed this weekend while workers make the most of no Western Line trains to make progress on pre-electrification work.
A big job this weekend will be to destress the track between Morningside and Kingsland Stations. Teams continue with the installation of signalling pits, cables and ducting. Old rails and sleepers were removed this morning. Tomorrow, the crew will move a tamper through the area to straighten and balance the tracks. A major sleeper lay is planned for the period between November 10 and 20.
Morningside Drive is one of the key level crossings named years ago as going to create issues when very frequent electric trains pass through.
There is no sign of any moves to create a bridge for cars which is what will be needed.
8 Comments
At a Kiwirail lecture a few months ago they said that they are seriously considering permanently closing one of the main roads which cross the line between New Lynn and Newmarket. He wouldnt say which one it was, but I imagine its either Morningside Drive, St Georges Road, St Jude street or Normanby Road.
Sam - Don’t forget Woodward Ave.
Personally I think that we should put $10-20m aside per year to remove level crossings in the region. Woodward Ave and Morningside Dr would be my top priorities.
Wow, I wake up and so many updates and photos! Thanks Jon
@Andy Glad you enjoy them!
I’m not a fan of replacing level crossings with bridges, as it only benefits road traffic and not trains.
Geoff - There are some benefit to trains or at least train drivers. It means that they won’t be affected by idiots who decide to try their luck at crossings and end up getting themselves killed.
Geoff, I disagree - it removes limitations to further intensifying services, so it very much benefits rail.
Also, building a bridge in 2010 normally means they get cycle lanes and wide footpaths, so the road-area benefits also are also spread a bit wider than just cars.
I do feel though that it should be a cost-shared thing.
The trains will also be able to run faster without level crossings too won’t they? I presume the running speed is kept lower if there are a number of level crossings on a section of track?
And will save the drivers from having to sound the horn every time they cross, which will get increasingly disturbing to those in the vicinity of the rail network with ten minute frequencies.