Rail upgrades

[WellyWanderer]

Porirua Station refurbishment photos


Looking towards east end of tunnel from west end.


Sign at west end of tunnel at the base of the stairs and ramp up to the buses.


Mural (or muriel for Hilda Ogden/Coronation Street fans) at bottom of eastern ramp up to platforms.


Just some of the many photos attached to the walls inside the tunnel.


Sign at east end of tunnel at base of the ramp and stairs up to the main carpark. North-bound train replacement buses now arrive/depart from the top of the ramp to the left. South-bound train replacement buses still arrive/depart from the main bus stop on the western side of the station.


Mural on the wall of the landing half way up the stairs from the tunnel to the platforms.


Stairs from the tunnel to the platforms.


Eastern ramp from the tunnel to the platforms. The middle ramp from the platforms which turns left and right into the eastern and western ramps is on the left.


Some more of the many photos attached to the walls inside the tunnel.


Stairs from the tunnel to the landing from which there are two staircases up to the platforms.


Mural at the bottom of the ramp leading from the western end of the tunnel up to the main bus stops and the Porirua CBD.


Mural on the wall the ramp leading from the western end of the tunnel up to the main bus stops and the Porirua CBD.


Western side of station (platform 2), ramp up from the western end of the tunnel, and part of the main bus stop area.


Eastern side of station building and platform 1.

[drosophila]

They've almost overdone it with all those murals!

[Daniel]

I like it but I can't help cringing in expectation of vandalism.

[luke96241]

They have been covered with perspex so graffiti can be easily cleaned off.

[Daniel]

They have been covered with perspex so graffiti can be easily cleaned off.

Vandals today have ways of etching, scratching or simply smashing perspex.

[WellyWanderer]

No damage so far... I had a good wander around and could find no sign of any tagging/vandalism to the murals or photos or any sign of any repair work, such as re-painting or discoloured perspex. There are cameras in the tunnels, you can see one in the 1st photo and another in the 9th. The only eye-sore was bicycle tyre marks on the ramps and tunnel floor (you can seem them in some of the photos). I think the murals and photos look quite good. Certainly an improvement on before.

There's a little bit of art work in the Plimmerton tunnel, too. Nothing in the Paraparaumu tunnels, though. The new tunnel hasn't even been finished yet. There seems to be a problem with drainage. Some drainage channels had to be cut across the new floor. The channels have pieces of 4x2 in them, presumably to stop people tripping over. Water drains under the pieces of timber, into another channel along the side (that was part of the original design) and then down a man hole at the bottom of the eastern ramp. The new tunnel flooded a few times in the early days and everyone had to walk around via the Kapiti Road rail crossing. That was before the new platform came into use.

[luke96241]

You can always replace the perspex though.

[WellyWanderer]

Oh dear! What happened here?
Before and after photos from the Porirua Station tunnel
(The "after" photos were taken in the weekend. The signs may have since been fixed)

(Western end of tunnel) Before...


(Western end of tunnel) After...


(Eastern end of tunnel) Before...


(Eastern end of tunnel) After...

[scooter]

They're either....

a) in someone's house.... or

b) there was a stuff up and they were around the wrong way

[param1974]

hideous pictures...

But in line with Porirua I suppose.

[kaiwhara]

God that must have happened really recently, as they were all in place only a couple of weeks ago when I went though the ubway last...

[WellyWanderer]

b) there was a stuff up and they were around the wrong way

There were around the right way. The arrows on the signs were pointing in the right direction - as shown in the "before" photos.

Paraparaumu now has similar signs in its tunnels. No art work as yet, though...

[keg]

A few station bit and pieces from GWRC Report 11.566:

4.12 Naenae Station
Work on planning the works for alterations to Naenae station have begun. The
project consultant is engaging an architect to develop the new shelter layout for
the station incorporating as many features of the old building as possible.
Some construction work is planned for the Christmas block of line with the
bulk of the work being carried out during normal operations including a short
closure of the station. All construction works are expected to be complete by
mid May 2012.

4.13 Tawa
Greater Wellington is looking to use the line closure over the Christmas period
to begin essential works on the roof at Tawa Station. A full condition
assessment of the roof and inner loft space is being made to estimate the extent
of work required. Consideration is also being given to the exterior of the
building to prevent further weather damage.

4.14 Kenepuru
Greater Wellington continues to work with KiwiRail and the appointed
consultant for the design and works to repair the platform at Kenepuru Station.
It is proposed to carryout the construction works on the platform during the
Christmas line closure. The station is expected to be reopened following the
Christmas closure.

Not going far enough at Naenae - need to get rid of that self storage place that visually cuts the station off from the town centre. Selling off that land and allowing that to be built was incredibly short sighted verging on stupid. However anything that involves to away with the current run down and stuffed building is a good start.

Tawa - decision needed on what the longer term future of the current building is. Patching the roof and walls is just a holding action - either do a Plimmerton type job or get rid of it and replace with something modern.

Kenepuru - Gaaah! Money, Drain, 'nough said.

[Daniel]

A few station bit and pieces from GWRC Report 11.566:

4.12 Naenae Station
Work on planning the works for alterations to Naenae station have begun. The
project consultant is engaging an architect to develop the new shelter layout for
the station incorporating as many features of the old building as possible.
Some construction work is planned for the Christmas block of line with the
bulk of the work being carried out during normal operations including a short
closure of the station. All construction works are expected to be complete by
mid May 2012.

4.13 Tawa
Greater Wellington is looking to use the line closure over the Christmas period
to begin essential works on the roof at Tawa Station. A full condition
assessment of the roof and inner loft space is being made to estimate the extent
of work required. Consideration is also being given to the exterior of the
building to prevent further weather damage.

4.14 Kenepuru
Greater Wellington continues to work with KiwiRail and the appointed
consultant for the design and works to repair the platform at Kenepuru Station.
It is proposed to carryout the construction works on the platform during the
Christmas line closure. The station is expected to be reopened following the
Christmas closure.

Not going far enough at Naenae - need to get rid of that self storage place that visually cuts the station off from the town centre. Selling off that land and allowing that to be built was incredibly short sighted verging on stupid. However anything that involves to away with the current run down and stuffed building is a good start.

Tawa - decision needed on what the longer term future of the current building is. Patching the roof and walls is just a holding action - either do a Plimmerton type job or get rid of it and replace with something modern.

Kenepuru - Gaaah! Money, Drain, 'nough said.

To tell you the truth there aren't many people living in Naenae who don't know that the pedestrian tunnel leads to a train station. All the need is a big sign over the front of the underpass entrances to solve that.

And yes I agree they should demolish and replace the shelter at Tawa and if not do a thorough repair/rebuild.

[john-ston]

And yes I agree they should demolish and replace the shelter at Tawa and if not do a thorough repair/rebuild.

I would rather that a thorough repair/rebuild takes place - it is an old station building, and there are so few of those left in New Zealand (especially in our suburban areas).

[kaiwhara]

It cannot be demolished, it is a Heritage Listed Building.

And yes I agree they should demolish and replace the shelter at Tawa and if not do a thorough repair/rebuild.

I would rather that a thorough repair/rebuild takes place - it is an old station building, and there are so few of those left in New Zealand (especially in our suburban areas).

[Daniel]

It cannot be demolished, it is a Heritage Listed Building.

And yes I agree they should demolish and replace the shelter at Tawa and if not do a thorough repair/rebuild.

I would rather that a thorough repair/rebuild takes place - it is an old station building, and there are so few of those left in New Zealand (especially in our suburban areas).

They've heritage listed a nondescript timber building from 1937?

I can't see it anywhere on this list;
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/heritage/index.php?m=building&p=10

[keg]

To tell you the truth there aren't many people living in Naenae who don't know that the pedestrian tunnel leads to a train station.

Indeed. However that's not what I was getting at.

The current station is hidden away with little or no passive surveilence. Combining that with a long grotty subway with shap corners that you can't see round at either end doesn't help the level of perceived safety. Getting rid of the self storage place and chopping the hedge on the other side would achieve a lot. Could possible replace the subway with pedestrian level crossings or shorten it as was done at Upper Hutt. Throw in a P&R and basic bus interchange on the storage site (and possibily bus stops on the western side for the 150 which would requir a minor route change)...

They've heritage listed a nondescript timber building from 1937?

Had a quick look, I couldn't find it either.

If they can do a Plimmerton type job on it and get something in there, I'd be happy with that. If not, shift it off or pull it down...

[Daniel]

To tell you the truth there aren't many people living in Naenae who don't know that the pedestrian tunnel leads to a train station.

Indeed. However that's not what I was getting at.

The current station is hidden away with little or no passive surveilence. Combining that with a long grotty subway with shap corners that you can't see round at either end doesn't help the level of perceived safety. Getting rid of the self storage place and chopping the hedge on the other side would achieve a lot. Could possible replace the subway with pedestrian level crossings or shorten it as was done at Upper Hutt. Throw in a P&R and basic bus interchange on the storage site (and possibily bus stops on the western side for the 150 which would requir a minor route change)...

I don't think pedestrian level crossings are too desirable either, especially as the tunnel surfaces mid-platform. The tunnel is pretty grotty and 1950's though. It looks like it's improved a lot now its had proper lighting installed but they should really resurface the tunnel floor and think about splashing out on some murals or tiles for the walls. I never felt in any danger myself using it but I suppose I'm not a young woman.
I would say doing something with the station structure such as renovating it or doing a Petone-style alteration would be a bigger priority. And maybe replacing the self-storage place with a block of residential apartments could reduce any anti-social behaviour?

[c46andc47]

[ don't think pedestrian level crossings are too desirable either, especially as the tunnel surfaces mid-platform. The tunnel is pretty grotty and 1950's though. It looks like it's improved a lot now its had proper lighting installed but they should really resurface the tunnel floor and think about splashing out on some murals or tiles for the walls. I never felt in any danger myself using it but I suppose I'm not a young woman.
I would say doing something with the station structure such as renovating it or doing a Petone-style alteration would be a bigger priority. And maybe replacing the self-storage place with a block of residential apartments could reduce any anti-social behaviour?

Petone Station does not suffer from major vandalism. I put that down to several reasons. Firstly there are no schools nearby. Secondly the station is clearly visible from several angles. Third is the well designed upgrade. Finally the ticket office is manned Mon - Fri until about 1315 and the staff take pride in "their" station.

The problem with Naenae, apart from the nearby schools, is that the station is hidden from view. The blame can be laid on the poor town planning by the Lower Hutt City Council who allowed the storage units to be built. The units cut the station off from the shopping centre. A commuter car park with an additional entrance to the subway would have been better than what is there now.

I consider it regretable that Epuni station was demolished rather than upgraded. It was an attractive, but very run down, building. After the demolition of Waterloo for the Interchange Epuni was the only building of its style remaining in the Valley.

Getting off topic but the Lower Hutt City Council (not Hutt City) is not known for its good town planning. Examples are Briscoes/Rebel Sports in Queens Drive and the Queensgate Mall. The mall may be good for the owners but for many reasons I consider it to be a very poor design that does not interface well with the rest of the CBD. Yet it was approved (presumably) by the Council.