9 June 2005

ARTA begins design for Stage 2 of Western Line double tracking

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) has selected GHD Limited engineering consultants to carry out the detailed design of Stage 2 of the double tracking of the western rail line, which has an estimated construction cost of about $60m.

ARTA CEO Alan Thompson says that GHD Limited, in conjunction with rail track designer and owner ONTRACK, has entered the detailed design phase of Stage 2 of the double tracking project which will run from New Lynn to Henderson.

Mr Thompson says that the $600,000 design project was publicly tendered and five organisations put in bids for the work. ARTA took a combination of factors into consideration and robust selection criteria were applied.

"The Western Line double tracking project is divided into five stages which will ultimately see the rail line from Boston Road Station to Swanson double tracked, and the Newmarket station redeveloped. Stage 1, which is now complete, involved double tracking lines from Boston Road in Mt Eden through to New North Road in Morningside," he says.

Double tracking of the Western Line will allow trains to travel in both directions simultaneously, thereby avoiding rush-hour bottlenecks. It is also expected to create more reliable and frequent rail services.

"More morning and evening peak services will run to and from West Auckland and, with completion of Stage 1, increased services between Britomart and New Lynn have been introduced," says Mr Thompson.

Stage 2 will link into the new Waitakere City civic centre and transport interchange being constructed at Henderson.

"The next step for ARTA is to obtain further funding and then call for tenders for the construction of Stage 2 over the next few months," he says.

ARTA has also advertised tenders for concept design of Stage 4 and redevelopment of the Newmarket station.

While the design project is underway, vegetation is being cleared along the rail corridor from New Lynn to Henderson. This is being done without the use of chemicals or sprays by PM Sadler Limited at a cost of $120,000.

ENDS

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