Train station upgrades - May update

The existing shelter has been demolished, and will be replaced with a new shelter in May 2023.The shelter foundation areas are hoarded off, and will remain closed until the shelter is installed in May.

A temporary shelter will be installed on the platform.

No disruption to services are expected, and all works will be conducted within the hoarding.

Both subway ramps are being strengthened with a new roof. Cosmetic upgrades will include new handrails, surface painting and a flooring upgrade.

All accessways stay open, and scaffolding will be in place.

Accessways will stay open. Some construction may be noisy, but will be reduced as much as possible.

The shelter on Platform 2 (services toward Upper Hutt) is being seismically strengthened between December 2022 and April 2023. This will involve improvement to the concrete foundation, and removing timber partition walls to increase visibility, which will be replaced with glazed screens in April - May 2023.

March 2023 Update: The strengthening of foundations under the building is now complete, and both sides of the building are now accessible for customers. Contractors will now apply the cosmetic upgrade, which will include resurfacing the building, installing new glazed screens, and replacing the seats. This remaining work is anticipated to take approximately 5-6 weeks, through to early May.

May 2023 Update: The building has been replastered and resurfaced. Laminated glass screens and seats will be installed throughout May, which will complete the project.

Design Process and Public Feedback

Public consultation was done in the first half of 2022, to ensure that local stakeholders had an opportunity to provide input into the design. This has helped Metlink to integrate design aspects that are most important to customers.

Illuminated handrails and pelmet tunnel lighting

New lighting in the tunnel will enable safer use of ramps and stairs.

Surface and flooring cosmetic upgrade

New floor surfaces will be easier to clean and create a fresh look and feel in the tunnel.  

Increased CCTV coverage

More cameras will be installed to provide greater security coverage in the tunnel and accessways.

Public announcement system

A PA system will be integrated into the lighting.

Entry canopies

Canopies will cover entries into the subway for greater visibility and wayfinding.

Items Outside Scope of the Project

Unfortunately, the following items are not within the scope of this cosmetic upgrade:

• Security patrolling throughout the subway.
• Construction of an overpass/bridge in lieu of the subway.
• Re-grading of the access ramp.

Upgrade timeline

Project Update May 2023

It is anticipated that all works will be complete bymid-May 2023.

Walls and Ceilings

Resurfacing of walls and ceilings is 90% complete. The walls are being waterproofed with a new render to reduce water seeping into the subway. It is anticipated that wall resurfacing will be complete in March.

Pelmet Lighting

Installation of the pelmet is 50% complete. Pelmet façade panels will be installed once they have been painted with the new cultural pattern.

CCTV and public announcement systems will be installed throughout the pelmet as it is installed.

Anticipated completion of all lighting pelmets is the third week of April.

Flooring Upgrade

The flooring upgrade is planned for completion by the end of March.

Entrance Portals

Portals are planned for installation by the end of March.

Delays and Issues

There have been some cases of vandalism against pieces of work already completed (spray-painting to completed walls, damage to safety hoarding etc). This has contributed to delays due to contractors needing to reallocate effort for repairs and remediation.

Inclement weather has sometimes impacted on the use of powered equipment in the subway tunnel, for the grinding of walls/floors etc. This has contributed to a minor delay in completion of works.

Project updates

During the project, updated details, images and plans will be shared for awareness, and noticeboards around the station will be updated with project and safety information.

While every effort is being made to reduce noise and light disturbance during this project, sometimes the subway tunnel will be noisy. When possible, we will schedule noisy work outside of peak hours.

Design Process and Public Feedback

Public consultation was done in the first half of 2022, to ensure that local stakeholders had an opportunity to provide input into the design and revitalization of the subway. Further to this consultation and in light of design considerations, some updates have been made to the proposed designs.

Illuminated handrails and pelmet tunnel lighting

New lighting on the handrails and in the tunnel will enable safer use of the subway, ramps and stairs.

Surface and flooring cosmetic upgrade

New floor surfaces will be easier to clean and create a fresh look and feel in the tunnel. Metlink Lime Green was proposed for the floor surface but has been changed to the darker Metlink Blue to reduce the appearance of wear and tear.

Increased CCTV coverage

More cameras will be installed to provide greater security coverage in the tunnel and accessways.

Public announcement system

A PA system will be integrated into the lighting.

Entry canopies

Canopies will cover entries into the subway for greater visibility and wayfinding. The proposed design has been refined to a simpler structure with lighting added to provide light at the entrance to stairs and ramps.

Illuminated handrails, improved stair surface, entrance canopy

Illuminated handrails, improved tunnel surface, improved wayfinding

Cultural designs

Baked Design continues to provide cultural designs for use within the subway. They have provided a range of linear and feature patterns for use as wall details, pelmet façade decal and projected imagery.

Items Outside Scope of the Project

Unfortunately, the following items are not within the scope of this cosmetic upgrade:

• Security patrolling throughout the subway.
• Construction of an overpass/bridge in lieu of the subway.
• Re-grading of the access ramp.

Upgrade timeline

Project Update April 2023

It is anticipated that all works will be complete by mid-June 2023.

Design Changes

The central atrium area between the two tunnels will now include a projection system, mounted on the ceiling, that will display high-definition imagery and video onto the southern wall. This will be controlled by Metlink via an app – there will likely be scope for community groups to provide input on what media can be included.

Walls and Ceilings

Resurfacing of walls and ceilings is 85% complete. The walls are being waterproofed with a new render to reduce water seeping into the subway. It is anticipated that wall resurfacing will be complete by mid-May.

Pelmet Lighting

Installation of the pelmet 45% complete. Pelmet façade panels will be installed once they have been painted with the new cultural pattern.

CCTV and public announcement systems will be installed throughout the pelmet as it is installed.

Anticipated completion of all lighting pelmets is late May.

Flooring Upgrade

Stripping of the existing floor will occur throughout May, with application of a new high-friction polyurethane flooring product to follow through to mid-June.

Entrance Portals

Entrance portals are fabricated, and ready for install. Installation will occur in early May.

Cultural Design Application

Cultural designs have been integrated into various elements of the project, as outlined in the design section above. Sandblasting will be utilised to apply cultural patterns and murals to the ramp walls at each end of the tunnel. This is likely to occur in late May.

Delays and Issues

Accessibility issues on the stairway access have been resolved by the contractor, with the installation of a temporary, centrally located handrail.

There have been steady cases of vandalism against pieces of work already completed (spray-painting to completed walls, damage to safety hoarding etc). This has contributed to delays due to contractors needing to reallocate effort for repairs and remediation.

There have been instances of poor/antisocial behaviour towards contractors by the public, including intimidation and verbal abuse. These occurrences often lead to contractors temporarily vacating the site for safety reasons, which contributes to minor delays.

Inclement weather has sometimes impacted on the use of powered equipment in the subway tunnel, for the grinding of walls/floors etc. This has contributed to a delay in completion of works.

Project updates

During the project, updated details, images and plans will be shared for awareness, and noticeboards around the station will be updated with project and safety information.

While every effort is being made to reduce noise and light disturbance during this project, sometimes the subway tunnel will be noisy. When possible, we will schedule noisy work outside of peak hours.

The main tunnel and access ramps are being strengthened. This includes spraying additional concrete, and increasing the foundations of ramp walls. The subway will then undergo a cosmetic upgrade, which will include repainting and surface upgrades, as well as the installation of new lighting, CCTV and accessible handrails.

All accessways stay open, and some areas will be hoarded off.

Accessways will stay open. Some construction may be noisy, but will be reduced as much as possible.

The main tunnel and access ramps are being strengthened. This includes spraying additional concrete, and increasing the foundations of ramp walls. 

The subway will then undergo a cosmetic upgrade, which will include repainting and surface upgrades, as well as the installation of new lighting, CCTV and accessible handrails.

All accessways stay open, and some areas will be hoarded off.

Accessways will stay open. Some construction may be noisy, but will be reduced as much as possible.

The existing shelter will be replaced with a new shelter in May 2023. The shelter foundation areas are hoarded off, and will remain closed until the shelter is installed.

A temporary shelter will be installed on the platform.

No disruption to services are expected, and all works will be conducted within the hoarding.

South building demolition and new shelter additions planned for 2023

The existing south building at Paremata Station is being demolished. Two new shelters are being added to provide extra seating at the northern and southern ends of the platform. Expected completion July 2023.

The shelter foundation areas are hoarded off, and will remain closed until the shelters are installed in January. No disruption to services are expected, and all works will be conducted within the hoarding.

New shelter design

Park & Ride partially closed during construction. Temporary carpark available on Douglass Close.

The platform shelter is being strengthening and cosmetically upgraded between April and June 2023. Safety barriers will be in place for any works that occur. A temporary shelter will be provided to enable weather protection and seating during construction. There will be times during construction where the shelter is still accessible for your convenience – please pay attention to any safety signage and fencing.