Onehunga Line

[Nick R]

Well if they can arrange a single ticket for the northern bus pass that allows travel on part of the rail network under the current contracting system, they could do the same with Onehunga.
My only concern is if this is to run before 2011-13 when the electrification and signalling is done, would they be able to guarantee the kind of reliability that an airport service demands?

[geoff_184]

A couple of photos of the first train to reach Onehunga on the new line, on Thursday 6th November 2008:

The first is near Galway St, where the line currently ends, just before it curves away to the port, and the second is between Mays Rd and Maurice Rd.

[newnewt]

Great photos geoff_184... but they very clearly illustrate, the fundamental and critical limitation with the whole reinstatement of the Onehunga branch line... namely, IT'S ONLY SINGLE-TRACK! Why, in the name of all that is sensible, was the line not double-tracked at the same time? How is it ever going to function as an Airport Line or even accommodate future growth from Onehunga? How is this anything but another example of short-sighted planning?

[nzqf182]

Great photos geoff_184... but they very clearly illustrate, the fundamental and critical limitation with the whole reinstatement of the Onehunga branch line... namely, IT'S ONLY SINGLE-TRACK! Why, in the name of all that is sensible, was the line not double-tracked at the same time? How is it ever going to function as an Airport Line or even accommodate future growth from Onehunga? How is this anything but another example of short-sighted planning?

The airport line is going to be a loop that goes from penrose to wiri.

[jarbury]

Even if that's the case, I would think an airport line would need to be double-tracked. Imagine the short-sightedness of only single-tracking across the Manukau Harbour.

I think I can hear john-ston screaming in horror at that possiblity from here.

For now, single-track is probably OK for Onehunga as it is not expected to have too many trains using it, and it's a pretty small stub of a line. Double-tracking would have required land purchases (as the former line was only single-track), obviously hugely increasing the cost.

[nzqf182]

Single track might work as it would be about 5-10mins travel from Penrose, plus there is room in some places for a crossing loop.

[NZLcyclist]

quick question, did they use brand new rail for this project?

[nzqf182]

quick question, did they use brand new rail for this project?

Im not sure aye tho they have been ripping up old tracks in Wiri, Oathuhu and they ripped up the track that was already laided on this line .

[NZLcyclist]

Sleepers look new though

[nz_aj]

Is provision being made for double tracking under the manakau harbour bridge?
Hope the Onehunga line is being laid to one side of the corridor, so as to facilitate future double tracking.