Tuesday, 2 April 2013

All done (well, almost)

Papakura Station's long upgrade project is (almost) complete, with the last two tracks being commissioned over Easter weekend. All three upgraded platforms and the freight bypass track are now in use. Some very small details are yet to be completed, however.

Looking south from the island platform. These signals have an "E" light, which lights up when the track being signalled onto is electrified. If the light isn't on, electric trains cannot pass
Looking north from Platform 1, with the freight bypass on the far right
The gantry-mounted signal for trains departing Platform 1. This does not have an "E" light as all tracks it can signal onto will be electrified
The track layout north of the station. This layout allows a train to depart Platform 2/3 while another arrives at Platform 1, or arrive at Platform 1/2 while another departs Platform 3
A train passing over the new track
The island platform and new bypass track
Track layout south of the station, with the line to Pukekohe behind the camera. Here, all platform tracks converge into one, which only allows one (passenger) train to arrive or depart to/from Pukekohe
An example of unfinished detail: handrails for the stairs to Platform 1/2 need to be extended as the platform surface was lowered slightly for drainage