What is Project Dart?

Project Dart is a $600m initial upgrade of the Auckland rail network.  When completed it will deliver a rail network capable of more frequent and reliable commuter rail services, allowing rail to play a more prominent role in the region's public transport network.  The Newmarket Station and junction redevelopment is one of four key elements in the upgrade.

Newmarket Station to Boston Road

Newmarket Station is the second busiest on the network after Britomart and is at a key junction on the network.

The current track layout creates a bottleneck on the network - it prevents more frequent services and means small problems can quickly become major ones affected services right across Auckland.

Rebuilding Newmarket station and junction is a critical part of Project Dart.

A major re-design of the track layout is needed to allow for more frequent commuter services and ensure trains keep running smoothly through this busy part of the network well into the future.

Above left:  There is about 1km of single track between Newmarket Junction and Boston Road.

Above Right: There is no direct connection between Britomart and the west.  The 'back-shunt' means some western line services have to do a three-point turn to head west.

Newmarket station and junction - the solution

Newmarket station will be rebuilt with twin island platforms and three tracks - this will give the flexibility needed for more frequent passenger and freight services.

The track layout will allow a wide range of service options - including a direct connection between Britomart and the west, and possible west to south services.

All work will be done to enable future electrification.  The 'above rail' design of the station will be developed by ARTA.

Above: Pedestrian concourses will give improved access to Broadway, Remuera Road, and Broadway Park. 

Newmarket to Boston Road - the solution

Double tracking will be extended from the junction to Boston Road.

The Khyber Pass Road and Park Road overbridges will need to  be rebuilt to accommodate the second track.

Once other elements of Project Dart are completed this will give continuous double tracking from Britomart to Swanson.

It is possible a new station will be built between Khyber Pass Road and Park Road to replace the existing Boston Road station.  The will give better links to Auckland City's central transit corridor, the hospital and domain and any future development on the Lion Breweries site.

Above: Double tracking will be extended from the junction to Boston Road Station.

Construction

Rebuilding Newmarket station and junction is probably the most challenging of all the Dart Projects. 

It involves major construction in a very confined and busy part of the network.  We will need to keep the railway line open for freight and commuter trains throughout most of our construction activities.

We are developing a construction programme that balances project efficiency against the needs to commuters and other rail users and the surrounding community.  The safety of rail users and our construction workers is a key factor.

To keep disruption to commuters to a minimum we will build two temporary stations - one to serve the western line on Kingdon Street and the other to serve southern services from Remuera Road.  Commuters will use these stations until work is finished.

This gives us a large construction area for a safe and rapid construction of the station.

Managing construction effects

The redevelopment of Newmarket Station is a major construction project in the heart of a busy commerical and residential district.

It is inevitable there will be some impacts on those living and working near the rail corridor.

However, we will work closely with our contractors to minimise construction effects such as noise, dust, vibrations and traffic disruption.

As part of the project Khyber Pass Road and Park Road overbridges will need to be rebuilt.  This will be done so only a narrow slice of the bridge is under construction at a time to keep as many of the road lanes open as possible.

We are also investigating whether the Remuera Road overbridge needs rebuilding - if so a similar construction method will be used.

Site access to the station area will be from Sarawia Street.  This will mean some changes to the road layout at Sarawia Street level crossing.

Most of the construction will be done during daylight hours through the week.  However, there will be times when we will need to work into the night, and at weekends and public holidays.

For further information visit www.projectdart.org.nz or email info@projectdart.org.nz