Papakura to Pukekohe route protection

Four-tracking and a walking and cycling path

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Next steps

KiwiRail and Auckland Transport will consider feedback and complete further investigations, including environmental and other technical assessments.

Throughout this process we’ll continue engagement with Mana Whenua, Local Boards, and other key community stakeholders. This will help us to make decisions and confirm the proposed routes. In mid-2024 we will contact potentially affected property owners.

We will continue sharing project updates with the wider community.

KiwiRail and Auckland Transport are planning to lodge their NoRs later this year or early 2025.

View feedback received during community engagement

Papakura to Pukekohe four-tracking

Over the next 30 years, it is expected that an extra 130,000 people will call southern Auckland home. KiwiRail is already building a third line on the busiest part of the network, but to keep up with demand and allow more frequent journeys, KiwiRail wants to extend the third track and build a fourth.

To prepare for this development, KiwiRail is proposing to protect the land that will be needed in the future. This means that when funding becomes available, we can extend the Southern line to four tracks, improving journey times for commuters and separating fast and slow trains. This will have a positive impact on all customers using the Southern Line and a knock on effect across the whole network.

Drury to Pukekohe walking and cycling path

Auckland Transport is proposing to protect land to enable the future development of a walking and cycling path in the vicinity of the rail corridor between Drury and Pukekohe. It will connect with the walking and cycling path between Papakura and Drury that is being delivered by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi as part of the Papakura ki Pukekura – Papakura to Bombay project.

A future safe, direct, and high-quality walking and cycling path will connect with town centres, train and bus stations, recreational facilities, and places of work and education. This will make walking and cycling a safer, easier and more convenient transport option for more people

Map

Click on the below map image to enlarge.

Map showing proposed four-tracking and a walking and cycling path

Map showing route protection for four-tracking and a walking and cycling path

Please note: The map shows the general, indicative-only alignment of four-tracking and the walking and cycling path. It does not reflect impact on properties. Later in 2024, we will contact potentially affected property owners to discuss potential impacts.

Route protection is the planning process that identifies and protects land for future infrastructure development and gives clarity about where transport routes will be located. It helps communities, businesses, developers, and utility and infrastructure providers, make informed decisions about the future. It also guides future location choices for other essential community services, such a recreational facilities, schools, and hospitals.

Once the land required is protected, property owners can continue to use, own, buy, or sell their land right up until it is needed for construction.

KiwiRail and Auckland Transport plan to route protect the land needed for two new tracks and a walking and cycling path.

Each organisation will submit their Notices of Requirement (NoR) to protect the land needed for their future projects. This is similar to applying for a resource consent and is a statutory process under the Resource Management Act.

You can read more about the importance of route protection and watch a short video about it within the Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth website.

As KiwiRail and Auckland Transport do not own all the land needed, private land will be affected by these projects.

At this stage, the final routes have not been confirmed. Once they have been identified, we will work with potentially affected property owners closely so that they understand the process and their rights.

Delivery of these projects is not currently funded and construction may not start for many years. These projects are both part of the wider future transport network in southern Auckland and are not expected to be delivered for 10 to 30 years in line with growth in the area.

Once route protection is secured, future project stages will include:

  • concept design
  • resource consent approvals
  • procurement
  • detailed design
  • and construction.

Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth is a programme to investigate and plan transport projects to support urban growth in Auckland over the next 30 years. The growth areas in southern Auckland make up the largest part of future urban areas for the whole of Tāmaki Makaurau.

In 2016, Auckland Transport, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and Auckland Council worked in partnership to develop a Programme Business Case. The Programme Business Case was a response to the pace, scale, and staging of future growth. It identified a preferred transport network for early route protection in the southern growth area. The intent of the route protection approach was to save money and minimise social disruption in the long term.

There are a lot of projects happening in southern Auckland and they are currently in different stages. A long-term strategic transport network has been planned, with well-designed transport connections that support future growth.

Route protection for projects in the Drury and Ōpāheke areas has been completed and route protection is still underway around Pukekohe, Paerata and South Drury.

KiwiRail is working to extend the electrification of the network from Papakura to Pukekohe and redevelop Pukekohe Railway Station. Commuters travelling from Pukekohe will no longer need to switch trains at Papakura and will be able to enjoy faster, quieter electric trains that are better for the environment. There will also be modifications to level crossings in the area.

Combined with the Drury Rail Stations project to build three new railway stations between Papakura and Pukekohe, this will make travelling by train more accessible and appealing to those living or working in, or visiting the area.

During 2024, KiwiRail and Auckland Transport will complete more detailed investigations, including environmental and other technical assessments.

Engagement with Mana Whenua, partners, property owners, developers, and key community stakeholders will continue. This engagement will help us to make decisions to confirm the proposed routes.

Potentially affected property owners will be contacted later in 2024 and will continue sharing project updates with the wider community and stakeholders.

KiwiRail and Auckland Transport are planning to lodge their NoRs later this year or early 2025.

Drury Rail Stations

The Government has provided funding for three new railway stations at Drury, Drury West and Paerātā.

Enabling works are underway at Drury Railway Station (Drury Central) and Paerātā Railway Station, with main construction expected to begin later in the year.

More information on the rail stations at Drury can be found here.

Below are artist's impressions of the Drury Railway Station and Paerātā Railway Station.