Artist's impression of the new development at Kawakawa Railway Station, headquarters of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. Image / Supplied
Artist's impression of the new development at Kawakawa Railway Station, headquarters of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. Image / Supplied
Work to resurrect the historic railway line from Kawakawa to Ōpua is set to resume this week.
Currently the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway runs trains from Kawakawa to Long Bridge at Taumarere, a distance of about 7km, while the remaining 6km of rail corridor to Ōpua forms part ofthe popular Twin Coast Cycle Trail.
Long-term, the plan is to shift the cycle trail so the two attractions can operate side-by-side, but this coming summer trains will be used to shuttle bikes along a section of restored track.
The restoration work will require the closure of a 2.6km stretch of cycle trail from Long Bridge east to Akeake.
Cyclists and walkers will still be able to use the rest of the trail including the 3.8km section from Ōpua to Akeake.
Map showing the section of Twin Coast Cycle Trail which will be closed from September 13 to November 30. Photo / Supplied
Twenty-two locals are due to start reinstating the rail tracks today. The work is due to be completed on November 30.
Blue Newport, chairman of the Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail Trust, said efforts were being made to ensure cycle trail businesses could continue to operate with as little disruption as possible during the closure.
During summer the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway would operate a gold-coin shuttle train service on the restored section of track so cyclists could still travel from Ōpua through to Kawakawa.
The shuttle train service, which would be supported by the Far North District Council, would start on December 1 and be a first for New Zealand's national cycle trail network.
''It will offer a safe and fun workaround for cyclists and other trail users to complete the popular east coast section of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail," Newport said.
Other sections of the trail between Akeake and Ōpua would be closed as work progressed. Those closures were expected to start in February 2022.
Riders cross the Long Bridge at Taumarere, part of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. Photo / Supplied
Meanwhile, work continues on other aspects of the ambitious community-led project to turn what used to be the Ōpua branch railway into a significant employer and tourist attraction.
Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust chairwoman Sue Hamnett said the past year had seen ''incredible progress''.
A new engineering workshop opened in April and a new service centre was being built alongside Kawakawa Station by Paihia contractor Sita Construction.
Artist's impression of the new development at Kawakawa Railway Station, headquarters of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. Image / Supplied
With more than 120 volunteers, employees and contractors now contributing to the railway project the service centre will provide much-needed space for offices and training facilities.
Restoration of the 111-year-old steam ferry Minerva, which would eventually link up with the train for a steam experience, was also progressing well.
The project is being managed by Northland Adventure Experience (NAX), which was formed to represent project partners Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail Trust, Ngā Tangariki O Ngāti Hine and Far North District Council.
Former Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones takes a locomotive for a spin after announcing $5.6m in funding for a Bay of Islands railway and steam ferry project. Photo / Peter de Graaf
It is funded by a $5.6 million grant announced last year by then Economic Development Minister Shane Jones through the Provincial Growth Fund, now Kānoa Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit.
The grant covers the restoration of carriages, Minerva, steam locomotives and rail track, plus the new service centre.
NAX is also managing the complementary project to relocate the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, which is funded by the Far North District Council.
The council has budgeted just over $9.7m in its Long Term Plan 2021-31 to realign the Taumarere-Ōpua section of the trail. The budgeted spend for the current year is $3.07m rising to $4.63m in 2022-23 and decreasing to just over $500,000 by 2025-26.
The railway line from Kawakawa to Ōpua opened in 1884 though a bush tramway to Taumarere was built in 1868.
Volunteers restore the 111-year-old steam ferry Minerva at their base in Ōpua. Photo / Supplied
