The Final Countdown

Today (1 June 2012) is the last full day of the old signalling system and Platform 3 operations before Papakura station redevelopment enters the next stage. The next few months will see the sidings and Platform 3 demolished, and new platforms built in their place. With that, here are some "D-Day" photos of the station.

A train drops off passengers in the final hours of Platform 3

The train (ADL 804) looking over the to-be-lifted yard

Departing Platform 3 in the final hours

The station building on its last day of operations

A train from the stabling yard (DC 4922) passing the station building shortly before stopping at Platform 2

The current ticket office, closing to allow refurbishments

The "bridge to nowhere" (the remains of the original bridge, demolished in 2007) behind the station building

Platform 1 (right) and Platform 2 before the weekend's works

A freight train passing the station building en route to Palmerston North

Ballast tamer and regulator waiting in the sidings

The yard and station building

This weekend will see the 80+ year old level operated signalling system decommissioned and replaced with a brand new automated system, which has been in use from Wiri to Swanson for some time now. The final train to be signalled through on the old system will be the southbound Overlander on Saturday morning, with trains after that to be signalled through verbally while the new system is being commissioned. As a result of the loss of the sidings, trains will start running empty to and from Pukekohe just to get them off the platform at Papakura.

Auckland Transport has released a media statement detailing the works to take place.

Papakura Station will move a step closer into the future with the next stage of upgrade works starting Queens Birthday Weekend.
Auckland Transport and KiwiRail are taking the opportunity of the Queen's Birthday Weekend rail network closure to switch signalling systems and carry out work which will modernise the station, meet future patronage growth and prepare it for electrification.
From Tuesday 5 June passengers will be directed to the island platform 1 and 2 while the first stage of work is being carried out to the station entry and platforms alongside Railway St West.
The station's Kiss and Ride parking and ticket office will close and customers can purchase concession tickets from two nearby agencies; Brandy's Café, 2/14 Railway Street and Stop N Save, 192 Great South Road.
On Saturday 2 June the Papakura Signal Box will close, to be replaced by an automated signalling system. It will end more than 80 years of manual signalling at the station.
One man who has seen many changes to the Auckland rail network is Veolia signaller Tom Davies. He has been working at Papakura Station for 21 years and in the rail industry for 43 years.
He is part of the team responsible for signalling the trains through the section of track between Wiri and Papakura.
"The lever operated mechanical signals were installed here in the 1930's and although they are safe and reliable they do need to be upgraded because with all the current and the old metal levers in the system, there will be a risk of electrocution once the new overhead wires going in.
"I think it's great the old signal panel will be kept on display in the ticket office, which is also a heritage building, to show people how we used to do it in the old days and how far we have come technologically on the railways for the early 1900s," says Mr Davies.
Veolia signalling staff will be there to witness the last signal given on Saturday 2 June before the office is decommissioned. The signalling equipment will stay and be relocated to the west side of the station along with the old wooden ticket building. The old heritage building will be refurbished into a ticketing office and information kiosk and space for public toilets.
Features of the station upgrade include; an enlarged Park and Ride, improved Kiss n Ride drop off, additional platform shelters and furniture, CCTV, lighting and PA upgrades, passenger information displays and refurbished ticketing office and information kiosk.
At the same time KiwiRail is undertaking a major re-arrangement of the tracks and platforms to provide a dedicated freight line through the station, and optimise track and platform layout in preparation for electrification.

From now on, expect blog posts to be more frequent than they have been, now that actual work has started.