Rail upgrades

[Daniel]

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.

Can't argue there, Lower Hutt is an example of an atrociously planned city even by NZ's standards.

[keg]

From TranzMetro:

Preparation work started in a tunnel on the NIMT

Work is being done at Tunnel 2 on the North Island Main Trunk now in preparation for an intensive burst of work during a two-week period at Christmas when trains will not run.

Tunnel 2 on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) is a 4.3km-long twin track tunnel, completed in 1937, that runs from 5.454km (South - Ngauranga) to 9.779km (North - Glenside). This section of the NIMT is a key route for freight traffic and commuter passenger services on the Kapiti Line.

Work is being done at the tunnel now in preparation for an intensive burst of work during a two-week period at Christmas when trains will not run. The work is designed to ensure the tunnel is safe and efficient for use as part of a network-wide upgrade of the Wellington commuter network, work KiwiRail is doing to modernise our region’s rail system.

A temporary speed restriction is in place at the site now, as the work affects the ballast the track rests on. This restriction will run till 10 days after the work is completed on 9 January 2012.

While this work is being carried out, there may be minor delays due to the speed restriction.

[scooter]

From TranzMetro:

Preparation work started in a tunnel on the NIMT

Work is being done at Tunnel 2 on the North Island Main Trunk now in preparation for an intensive burst of work during a two-week period at Christmas when trains will not run.

Tunnel 2 on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) is a 4.3km-long twin track tunnel, completed in 1937, that runs from 5.454km (South - Ngauranga) to 9.779km (North - Glenside). This section of the NIMT is a key route for freight traffic and commuter passenger services on the Kapiti Line.

Work is being done at the tunnel now in preparation for an intensive burst of work during a two-week period at Christmas when trains will not run. The work is designed to ensure the tunnel is safe and efficient for use as part of a network-wide upgrade of the Wellington commuter network, work KiwiRail is doing to modernise our region’s rail system.

A temporary speed restriction is in place at the site now, as the work affects the ballast the track rests on. This restriction will run till 10 days after the work is completed on 9 January 2012.

While this work is being carried out, there may be minor delays due to the speed restriction.

Some of my colleagues at work from out in n orthern reaches have mentioned lately its slower through Tunnel 2. Whats the nature of the works being undertaken? And is it all traffic that wont be running or just the EMUs?

[c46andc47]

Some of my colleagues at work from out in n orthern reaches have mentioned lately its slower through Tunnel 2. Whats the nature of the works being undertaken? And is it all traffic that wont be running or just the EMUs?

Spies tell me that it is re-railing in tunnel 2.

They also tell me that there will be no electric services between Christmas and new year. Freights will run, some wrong line.

A little earlier I noticed that the Xmas timtable is now on the Tranz Metro web site but I have not looked at it yet.

[pickle]

Can't argue there, Lower Hutt is an example of an atrociously planned city even by NZ's standards.

Agreed fully - similar to Manukau City.

[greenwelly]

Can't argue there, Lower Hutt is an example of an atrociously planned city even by NZ's standards.

I think you are being a bit unfair here, yes the permitted growth of Queensgate has turned the CBD into a wasteland,

But the actual areas that people live in a reasonably well structured, and it is well served by PT through a central spine, it has long direct arterial routes, and very few areas that explode with cul-de-sacs, akin to Albany and Botany downs. (I am mainly referring to the valley floor, as the hill suburbs are more creatures of their geography)

[c46andc47]

Can't argue there, Lower Hutt is an example of an atrociously planned city even by NZ's standards.

I think you are being a bit unfair here, yes the permitted growth of Queensgate has turned the CBD into a wasteland,

But the actual areas that people live in a reasonably well structured, and it is well served by PT through a central spine, it has long direct arterial routes, and very few areas that explode with cul-de-sacs, akin to Albany and Botany downs. (I am mainly referring to the valley floor, as the hill suburbs are more creatures of their geography)

In the Lower Hutt public library is a copy of a 1940s town planning report for Lower Hutt which makes intesting reading. Lower Hutt was a well planned town. The problems have arisen later:

The storage sheds at Naenae which isolate the station from the shopping centre.

The Briscoes tilt slab building which replaced a very attractive church. IMHO the Briscoes and Rebel Sports buildings have their doors at the wrong ends. Like the mall they isolate themselves from the rest of the business area.

Queensgate mall which isolates itself from the rest of the CBD. No doubt it suits the owners to have customers drive in, do their shopping, and then drive out without leaving the Mall. IMHO the Council should have required better pedestrian access to surrounding streets. The local rag story about the new mall had a drawing of a very attractive building. What was built is a monstrosity.

The Queensgate mall is on the site of a large transport centre. Maybe the transport centre was too big as more people owned cars but unfortunatly the bus stops that replaced it are an embarressment to Lower Hutt and are totally inadequate.

Maybe what says it all is that the Lower Hutt City Council insists on calling itself Hutt City. Makes me think of a hick, mid-western US town with cowboys fighting it out in the streets

[grunter]

Can't argue there, Lower Hutt is an example of an atrociously planned city even by NZ's standards.

IMaybe what says it all is that the Lower Hutt City Council insists on calling itself Hutt City. Makes me think of a hick, mid-western US town with cowboys fighting it out in the streets

Hutt City Council is the legal name given to the body created by the merger of the former Lower Hutt City, Petone Bourgh, Eastbourne Bourgh and Wainuiomata Councils. The is no such thing as the Lower Hutt City Council. Lower Hutt is a geographical area within, but not making up all, of the city. The names given to the various local authorities are bestowed upon them by the orginisation that alternetively creates and destroys them- the Local Govement Commision and its Minister for Local Govenment.

I consider quite appropriate that the Council should call itself Hutt City. Other than that is in fact its name, reference to Lower Hutt implies a particular area of the valley floor and excludes Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata.

[points&signals]

Some of my colleagues at work from out in n orthern reaches have mentioned lately its slower through Tunnel 2. Whats the nature of the works being undertaken? And is it all traffic that wont be running or just the EMUs?

Spies tell me that it is re-railing in tunnel 2.

They also tell me that there will be no electric services between Christmas and new year. Freights will run, some wrong line.

A little earlier I noticed that the Xmas timtable is now on the Tranz Metro web site but I have not looked at it yet.

The track on the down main will be lifted and the ballast below it will be dug out as it currently has large amounts of mud partly because of the climate inside the tunnel. Once new ballast has been dropped and re-railing has taken place new signals will also be installed.
The up main will remain in use for freight trains and work trains during the shutdown, the overhead will be isolated for saftey reasons and this will preclude the running of tranzmetro services.
The intention is do carry out the same work on the up main one year later.

[Daniel]

I think you are being a bit unfair here, yes the permitted growth of Queensgate has turned the CBD into a wasteland

Bud, it's not just the Queensgate mall. In addition to the mentionings of "c46andc47" I can think a few more.

There's the fact they allowed what would be an ideal area for low-rise residential blocks and strip malls along railway avenue to become a boulevard of tacky car dealerships (and why on earth are there so many tacky car dealerships in Lower Hutt in the first place?).

There's how they've allowed Petone and its once decent seaside community to be completely ruined by traffic to South-Eastern suburbs and Wainuiomata.

There's the loss of the ideal rail connection between what should be ideally situated Melling Station and Manor park and the loss of the station for Belmont.

There's the fact that the supposed transport hub is in Waterloo which seems to doom any bus routes to slower than necessary transit times due to heavy traffic.

There's the not-too impressive access to the suburbs on the western Hills.

And the atrocious access to Stokes Valley.

I'm not exaggerating when I say really don't know of a worse planned city anywhere in any developed country. There's always problems with automobile traffic along all main roads with many traffic bottlenecks with intersections and overbridges seemingly in the wrong place. It just doesn't seem to function as a city of 70,000 population should. It's really seems to be an ideal example of how a city council allowed itself to be developed to the whim of petty free enterprise.

And while I appreciate that they were more the product of central government, I've wondered before how much better the world would be if Taita and Pomare had been left alone as market-gardening areas.

Hutt City Council is the legal name given to the body created by the merger of the former Lower Hutt City, Petone Bourgh, Eastbourne Bourgh and Wainuiomata Councils. The is no such thing as the Lower Hutt City Council. Lower Hutt is a geographical area within, but not making up all, of the city. The names given to the various local authorities are bestowed upon them by the orginisation that alternetively creates and destroys them- the Local Govement Commision and its Minister for Local Govenment.

I consider quite appropriate that the Council should call itself Hutt City. Other than that is in fact its name, reference to Lower Hutt implies a particular area of the valley floor and excludes Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata

I'm really only talking about the part of "Hutt city" that is Lower Hutt. Eastbourne is lovely and Petone's got a lot of potential (especially if they could eliminate the traffic from the esplanade).

[pickle]

I went for a ride on a Matangi to Waterloo a couple of months where I hoped I'd meet the return train back to Wellington, but I missed the return trains and was stuck in the area for 30 minutes, it was the most awful half an hour in all my life!

[keg]

I went for a ride on a Matangi to Waterloo a couple of months where I hoped I'd meet the return train back to Wellington, but I missed the return trains and was stuck in the area for 30 minutes, it was the most awful half an hour in all my life!

Not the most exciting place, but could have been worse if you'd chosen the likes of Naenae, Wingate or Pomare instead. At least Waterloo Station is in reasonably nick (unlike some of the other stations up the line).

Hutt City Council is the legal name given to the body created by the merger of the former Lower Hutt City, Petone Bourgh, Eastbourne Bourgh and Wainuiomata Councils. The is no such thing as the Lower Hutt City Council. Lower Hutt is a geographical area within, but not making up all, of the city. The names given to the various local authorities are bestowed upon them by the orginisation that alternetively creates and destroys them- the Local Govement Commision and its Minister for Local Govenment.

The TLA created from the merger was the Lower Hutt City Council. Its name was changed to Hutt City Council by act of parliament in 1991. Poor name IMO as long as it excludes a substantial chunk of the Hutt (ie Upper Hutt) ...

[pickle]

Not the most exciting place, but could have been worse if you'd chosen the likes of Naenae, Wingate or Pomare instead. At least Waterloo Station is in reasonably nick (unlike some of the other stations up the line).

For some reason, the ticket office was closed and it was in the middle of July .

[Daniel]

Not the most exciting place, but could have been worse if you'd chosen the likes of Naenae, Wingate or Pomare instead. At least Waterloo Station is in reasonably nick (unlike some of the other stations up the line).

For some reason, the ticket office was closed and it was in the middle of July .

I'm not sure how relevant it was in the first place, but how was a 30 minute wait at Waterloo the worst experience of your life?

It doesn't sound like much fun but I can think of far worse ways to spend 30 minute of my life (like at almost any station on the Auckland network).

[john-ston]

Not the most exciting place, but could have been worse if you'd chosen the likes of Naenae, Wingate or Pomare instead. At least Waterloo Station is in reasonably nick (unlike some of the other stations up the line).

For some reason, the ticket office was closed and it was in the middle of July .

I'm not sure how relevant it was in the first place, but how was a 30 minute wait at Waterloo the worst experience of your life?

It doesn't sound like much fun but I can think of far worse ways to spend 30 minute of my life (like at almost any station on the Auckland network).

The most awful half hour of my life was spent on an N50 bus (and it wasn't because it was a bus either). I just ask that those posters who know the background story refrain from posting it - and if you really want to know, well you'll have to wait.

[keg]

From Tranz Metro:

Upgrade work at Kenepuru and Naenae stations

Greater Wellington Regional Council and KiwiRail are carrying out essential repairs and reconstructions at Kenepuru Station on the Kapiti Line and Naenae Station on the Hutt Valley line over the holiday break to ensure passenger’s safety and improve access.

Aurecon has been contracted to complete the work which will take place at both stations between Monday 26 December 2011 and Tuesday 24 January 2012. During this time, both stations will be closed.

What work is being done at the stations?

The construction work at Kenepuru Station will include resurfacing of both platforms, the replacement of the southbound platform frontage and upgrading the main access path on the southbound side to prevent any further erosion.

The works at Naenae Station are to be split into two phases, the first of which involves restrengthening the precast concrete platform frontages. The second phase will take place later in 2012 and will involve the demolition and reconstruction of the station building, as well as renovating the access stairs and resurfacing the platform.

Where do passengers go for train or buses replacing train services during the upgrade work?

Kenepuru Station

There are planned disruptions over the holiday period between 26 December 2011 and Sunday 8 January 2012 for the Kapiti Line, when buses will replace trains. Buses will stop at bus replacement stops at Kenepuru Station.

From Monday 9 January to Tuesday 24 January 2012, train services will operate on Kapiti line to a regular timetable. During this time trains will not be stopping at Kenepuru Station. Porirua or Linden stations are the closest to Kenepuru Station.

Once the train services resume on 9 January, if there are any planned disruptions buses replacing trains will stop at Kenepuru Station at the bus replacement stops.

Naenae Station

There are planned disruptions over the holiday period between 26 December 2011 and Tuesday 3 January 2012 for the Hutt Valley Line, when buses will replace trains. Buses will stop at bus replacement stops at Naenae Station.

However, from Wednesday 4 January until Sunday 8 Janaury 2012, train services will operate on the Hutt Valley line to the Christmas/New Year holiday timetable.

From Monday 9 January to Tuesday 24 January 2012, train services will operate on the Hutt Valley Line to a regular timetable.

During Wednesday 4 January until Tuesday 24 January 2012, trains will not be stopping at Naenae Stations. Epuni or Wingate stations are the closest to Naenae Station.

Once the train services resume on Monday 9 January, if there are any planned disruptions buses replacing trains will stop at Naenae Stations at the bus replacement stops.

For Naenae train commuters, there is the option of taking the #150 bus service from Harrison Crescent to either Epuni Station or Waterloo Station.

[pickle]

and if you really want to know, well you'll have to wait.

Sounds interesting .

I'm not sure how relevant it was in the first place, but how was a 30 minute wait at Waterloo the worst experience of your life?

Well I tried to have a look around the area, but all there was some awful run down shops, so I sat down on a bench back at the station and just about froze to death! It was a freezing cold day in the middle of winter with a cold breeze blowing. Yes I could see some Auckland station would be just as bad, if not worse but it wouldn't have been as cold cold and I haven't had the pleasure of having to wait there for 30 minutes.

[c46andc47]

and if you really want to know, well you'll have to wait.

Sounds interesting .

I'm not sure how relevant it was in the first place, but how was a 30 minute wait at Waterloo the worst experience of your life?

Well I tried to have a look around the area, but all there was some awful run down shops, so I sat down on a bench back at the station and just about froze to death! It was a freezing cold day in the middle of winter with a cold breeze blowing. Yes I could see some Auckland station would be just as bad, if not worse but it wouldn't have been as cold cold and I haven't had the pleasure of having to wait there for 30 minutes.

I agree that Waterloo Interchange is deficiant. The designers forgot that sometimes there is a wind in Wellington

I disagree about the shops though. You could have spent your time in an excellent second hand bookshop that usually has an amusing display in the window. There is a stationery shop with a good choice of magazines, includung rail. There are several places where you could have purchased fish and chips, sandwiches, pies etc. Then there is the butcher - one of the few remaining genuine butcher's shops left in the Valley. Plus a dairy and a Four Square. If the weather is good there are seats outside the Plunket rooms where you can eat your fish and chips.

[john-ston]

Sounds interesting .

It is an interesting tale, but if I were to mention it, then it could potentially make things really really awkward for me. You'll just have to try and get all the CBTers to have a lunch the next time you are in Auckland.

[Daniel]

Well I tried to have a look around the area, but all there was some awful run down shops, so I sat down on a bench back at the station and just about froze to death! It was a freezing cold day in the middle of winter with a cold breeze blowing. Yes I could see some Auckland station would be just as bad, if not worse but it wouldn't have been as cold cold and I haven't had the pleasure of having to wait there for 30 minutes.

I can't imagine how what you experienced was any worse than anywhere else in NZ in winter (and certainly not Auckland).

And while it's not exactly Regent street I wouldn't exactly call the shops on either side of Waterloo interchange "run-down" or awful, certainly not by Auckland's rather low-brow standards. I wouldn't want to be stuck there for 30 minutes but I've already experienced far worse 30 minutes in my life.

I agree that Waterloo Interchange is deficiant. The designers forgot that sometimes there is a wind in Wellington

It doesn't really get that windy that fr up the valley though really. It gets the blasts but it's not as bad as Wellington city itself.

I don't see how they could've done Waerloo's wind resistance any better except maybe make the roof lower.