Buses over the hill will replace trains under the hill for 46 days – from December 26 through February 10 – as eight kilometers of Remutaka Tunnel track are replaced.
KiwiRail plans the work as part of a full upgrade of the Masterton-Upper Hutt link, with the tunnel rail line not upgraded since it was installed in 1955 – some 70 years ago, KiwiRail manager of Metro Services Jon Knight said in a statement.
The Wairarapa Line has already seen bridges replaced, track rebuilt (and had 4mm of steel ground from the new, wrongly-positioned rails), and level crossing safety work undertaken.
“Over Christmas we will take another step forward by replacing (all) the 70-year-old track inside Remutaka Tunnel’” he said – adding the upgrade will allow the long-standing 60-kmh tunnel speed restrictions to be lifted “further reducing journey times for Wairarapa passengers.”
The upgrade work will also include replacing the old “lever-run” signalling system with a computer-based system which will be controlled from Wallaceville.
The work will also improve the tracks and systems “ahead of the introduction of new hybrid trains by 2028-29,” he said.
