News > Improvements to Wellington Railway Station platforms

Posted on 09/02/2010 12:00am

Improvements to Wellington Railway Station platforms are gathering pace with scaffolding going up at the station this week.

Passengers will be able to use all platforms although they will need to walk under the scaffolding which will cover Platforms 1 and 2 while its roof is replaced.

Wellington Region Rail Programme Director David Gordon said work on the platform roof would be done in two stages, starting at the northern end first.

“We expect the job to take about three to four months. Replacing the roof is just one of a series of small improvements we’re making to the platforms at Wellington Railway Station,” David Gordon explained.

“We have been working at night since Christmas, re-finishing the edges of the platforms in preparation for putting down new asphalt later in the year.

“We’re working on a number of stations around the region as part of the wider project to improve the rail network, ready for Greater Wellington Regional Council’s fleet of new Matangi trains.”

Remedial work was carried out on Platforms 1 and 2 at Wellington Railway Station last month following the discovery of lead-based paint on the platform surface and roof. For the current work on the roof, a specialist plastic surround will be installed around the scaffolding as a preventative measure.

The Wellington Region Rail Programme is a joint initiative between KiwiRail (Tranz Metro and ONTRACK) and Greater Wellington Regional Council to improve passenger rail services.

The $550 million programme includes:

• A fleet of new electric trains – the Matangi trains
• Extension of electrification and double tracked lines to take commuter services to Waikanae;
• Installation of power supply equipment and railway signalling;
• Adding another line into Wellington Railway Station to reduce delays;
• Making the Johnsonville Line tunnels larger; and
• Improving a number of platform and station facilities.