Train services back, but work continues

Auckland rail services should be back to normal today with the reopening of the eastern line and tracks south of Otahuhu. Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland rail services should be back to normal today with the reopening to passengers trains of the eastern line and tracks south of Otahuhu.

They were closed last week to all except freight trains, even after KiwiRail reopened the western line and the southern line between Otahuhu and Britomart, ending a fortnight-long break needed for construction and maintenance work.

The extended closures were to allow tracks to be lowered through the 800m Purewa tunnel west of Glen Innes and at a level-crossing at Church St East in Penrose as well as the construction of five replacement road bridges between Papatoetoe and Papakura to give electric trains enough height clearance.

A section of busy St George St in Papatoetoe, which crosses the southern railway line, will reopen to road traffic today.

It has been closed since before Christmas to allow construction of a new bridge, which is now almost completed.

But work is continuing on replacement bridges at four other sites, meaning continuing road closures in Bridge St, Papatoetoe, Browns Rd and Station Rd in Manurewa, and Clevedon Rd in Papakura.

Baldwin Ave Station near Mt Albert on the western line will also remain closed until February 1, when new lengthened platforms will be ready for six-car trains.

Roadworks will continue this week on several busy commuting routes including Quay St, where cables and ducting for power supply and telecommunications are being laid, and Kepa Rd in Kohimarama.

There will also be full and partial night-time closures of the motorway through St Marys Bay for the erection of a new gantry and signs, and the removal of no-longer-needed structures as an extension of the Victoria Park tunnelling project.

Northbound lanes will be shut tomorrow and Thursday nights and the motorway will be fully closed on Wednesday night.