Safe Rail Bridges Coming For Glen Innes, Takaanini And Te Mahia

Three Auckland train stations where there have been dozens of near misses between pedestrians and trains during the past decade will have their pedestrian level crossings replaced by modern, accessible overbridges, Auckland Transport (AT) says.

New pedestrian overbridges at Glen Innes, Takaanini and Te Mahia stations will improve safety and support more frequent and reliable train services when the City Rail Link opens.

The Government and Auckland Council have brought forward funding to allow construction of the three pedestrian bridges to be fast-tracked, with work starting at Labour Weekend when the rail network is closed and continuing during the summer rail closure.

From this week, AT is asking for feedback on the proposed bridge designs for Glen Innes, Takaanini and Te Mahia stations.

Local boards onboard with plan to improve safety in their communities

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Chair Maria Meredith says it will be great to have safer access for the Glen Innes community.

“The City Rail Link will enable more efficient travel times from the Glen Innes station, but more importantly, the removal of the level crossing will also enable a far safer environment,” she says.

“By removing level crossing incidents, we’ll have a more efficient and safer network for all users.”

Papakura Local Board Chair Brent Catchpole says removing level crossings will help keep people moving safely.

“Many crossings were built back when there were less people and less trains operating,” he says.

“As our community grows and more people live near train lines, removing level crossings will help keep people moving safely with less congestion.”

Manurewa Local Board Chairperson Matt Winiata says he is pleased to see AT progressing plans for the replacement of the pedestrian level crossing at Te Mahia Station.

“The new pedestrian bridge will allow safer access to and from the station platform from both Great South Road and Ferguson Street,” he says.

“This follows significant investment by the Local Board in the Te Mahia pedestrian plaza, transforming a train station with a once uncertain future into a notable transport hub for the surrounding area."

Safe rail bridges part of AT’s plan to get ready for the City Rail Link opening

Auckland Transport Director of Infrastructure and Place Murray Burt says the new pedestrian bridges will make it safer to access the stations and are part of a broader level crossing programme that will support more frequent and reliable train services when the City Rail Link opens.

“Every single incident at a level crossing has an impact that can be deadly or life-changing, taking a huge toll on train drivers and those who narrowly miss a collision,” Mr Burt says.

Mr Burt says these three level crossings have been prioritised for replacement with accessible overbridges because of how busy the rail network is through those areas.

“Takaanini and Te Mahia stations have been prioritised because that section of the Southern Line is the busiest on the Auckland rail network with a large number of freight and passenger trains,” Mr Burt says.

“Removing the level crossing at Glen Innes Station is needed because it is the last remaining level crossing on the Eastern Line, which will have trains every five minutes at peak after City Rail Link opens.”

Feedback wanted before AT finalises bridge designs

The designs for the three bridges have been developed to provide good access to the train stations, improve pedestrian safety, and to deliver value for money for ratepayers.

“We now want to hear feedback from our passengers and local communities about what the designs will mean for access, connection, and safety,” Mr Burt says.

This feedback will be used to finalise the bridge designs and to help with AT’s plans to integrate the bridges and station access into the wider neighbourhoods nearby.

Notes:

• The feedback period on the proposed bridge designs opened today and runs until 30 May.
• Have your say at Level Crossing Removal Programme | Have your say

About AT’s level crossings programme

· Level crossings increase safety risks for pedestrians and people in vehicles and make travel time longer for both people travelling on trains and those wanting to cross the tracks.

· Level crossings restrict train frequencies and have safety, productivity and accessibility implications on the road network, particularly when barrier arms need to be down longer.

· AT, KiwiRail and NZTA are working together to remove or replace all remaining 42 level crossings in Auckland over the next 10-30 years.

· The phasing of removals is driven by a range of factors including the frequency of trains, traffic delays, safety, available funding and future passenger growth in the years after City Rail Link opens.

· Following the removal of crossings to support increased train frequencies when City Rail Link opens in 2026 the priority order of removals is:

o Takanini – three new road bridges to replace level crossings. Funding has been confirmed and AT is beginning the detailed design, consenting, property acquisition and construction phase.

o Inner Western Line and other high priority crossings on the Western Line from the 2030s when passenger numbers have grown.

o Remaining Western Line crossings.

o Southern Line Papakura to Pukekohe – aligned with KiwiRail’s four tracking.

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