Parnell Station Moves Forward

in Train stations by Jon C — November 28, 2011 at 3:31 pm | 8 comments

Auckland Council today approved an extension of a railway designation into the Auckland Domain to allow a lowering of tracks for electrification and the construction of a Parnell rail station.

But the project seems to be getting later. We won’t be seeing the station until 2013 just before the first new electric EMUs arrive.

The council says work on the actual station won’t start until Christmas next year (2012).

The Auckland Transport application for the extension covers a 538m strip of land alongside the existing rail line, covering 2954m².

A decision to grant landowner approval of the designation was necessary to allow track-lowering works to start before Christmas.

The station at the foothills of the Domain alongside Mainline Steam’s depot was to be open about September next year.

The timetable from now is:

• December 2 obtain regulatory approval for the alteration to designation.
• 2 December 2011 – 9 December undertake any pre-commencement requirements e.g. construction noise management plan, herpetofaunal mitigation plan.
• 10 December contractors on site for preparatory works.
• 17 December 2011 to 17 January 2012 shut down period (block-of-line) for enabling works.
• Christmas period 2012/2013 Newmarket Station to be relocated to the site, platforms and associated works to be constructed.
• 2013 electrification of the railway

Parnell station design

Councillor Sandra Coney, chairperson of the council’s Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee, says the station project with its new connections to the Domain, Parnell and the CBD will kick-start the revitalisation and restoration of the valley.”

“We’re assured that works will be carefully carried out to ensure minimal disruption to the Domain environment,” said Councillor Coney. “The committee’s approval requested careful landscaping and general improvement of the area with much better access to Parnell and the Domain.”

Parnell station will go here

The committee required that Auckland Transport engaged with Maori over the plans as the additional works surrounding the station were developed.

The Council says there will be no effect on archaeological sites in the area.

Further agreements between the council, Auckland Transport and New Zealand Railways Corporation have to be settled regarding the construction and operation of the railway station.

At last estimate made public , the full station and necessary track work will cost $14m.The old Newmarket station building will be relocated to the site to add to its heritage theme at a  cost of $1.10m.

The work involves:

• Lowering the track by a maximum depth of approximately 1.75m over a length of 600m in order to achieve a 1:80 grade for station platforms;
• One retaining structure on the eastern side of the track (within the existing designation);
•  Two retaining structures up to 4m on the western side of the track, portions of which are location outside the existing designation boundary and within the proposed alteration area (i.e. on Domain land);
• Batter slopes located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Formalising drainage systems located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Track realignment including shifting the track up to 1.8m east (away from the Auckland Domain) to accommodate the station platforms, while maintaining the existing use of Mainline Steam;
• Closure of the existing pedestrian underpass which provides access to/from Auckland Domain and construction of a new underpass approximately 60m to the north and formation of new connecting pedestrian path on the Auckland Domain;
• Earthworks involving 17,000m
• Vegetation clearance to provide for the above works. This comprises native and exotic species, native understorey shrubs, grasses, open grass and weed areas.

Tags: Parnell train station