No progress

Progress at Papakura appears to have stalled, for now. Very little has actually happened.

Platform 3 today. Apart from the removal of some items such as security cameras and the HOP tag-on post, very little has changed

The next round of weekend closures is on 14 and 15 July, so hopefully something happens then.

Update, and electric train mockup

While not a lot has happened in recent days, work is still going on at Papakura station.

A train passes the new temporary fence at Papakura. This type of fence clips onto the rails

Close up of the fence attached to the rails

Markers have appeared in the old yard space. Hopefully this means some construction will start soon

The isolated Platform 3 looking no different from when it closed

The old east loop has now disappeared completely

This means that the signal that was sitting in the middle of the track is no longer doing so

Remember that Papakura is being redeveloped in preparation for eletrification. This of course means we need new electric trains to run under the wires. A mockup of these new trains (fresh off the boat from Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA - CAF - in Spain) was unveiled by Auckland Transport and mayor Len Brown today, which shows off the driver's cab, high and low floor sections, and the gangway between carriages. Unfortunately, just as I got there, the mockup was being covered up due to the weather, so I only got an exterior photo.

The electric multiple unit (EMU) mockup on display at Queen's Wharf, next to the Cloud

Construction on the new trains is due to start later this year, with the first train arriving in late 2013. The EMUs are due to begin entering service in 2014, with the entire fleet of 57 trains in service by 2016. They will feature the latest technology and onboard services, such as WiFi. The three-car EMUs will have a capacity of 375 passengers. These will also be the first brand new trains Auckland has seen for a very long time - our current fleet are second-hand trains from Perth, Queensland and Britain.

The mockup will be used to gather feedback from staff and passengers, and use this feedback to make changes to the final product. Exciting times ahead for Auckland rail!

Fast work

Wow, KiwiRail are really getting on with the redevelopment now.

A digger moves old track around

An old set of points sit next to Platform 3

Almost no traces remain of the yard at Papakura

Meanwhile it's business as usual for passengers

KiwiRail now appear to be focusing on the station area itself. The crossovers haven't been changed much

Lifting track and nostalgia

KiwiRail are certainly making fast work of removing the old tracks at Papakura.

The track for Platform 3 has seen better days: it isn't exactly as straight as it used to be

A telephoto compressed shot highlighting the now crooked track

Tracks rising out of the mud

Close-up showing the sleepers out of the ground

This track has been unbolted but not yet lifted

Last Day Photos

I've also received some photos from Veolia Transport and KiwiRail suburban driver Andrew James of the last train through Papakura under the old lever signalling, so I thought I'll share them here.

Papakura signal panel layout as at decommissioning. Note the paper taped on the right side; this was a temporary alteration made when the stabling yard tracks were reconfigured. Photo: Andrew James

The last train to be signalled under manual signalling, the southbound Overlander to Wellington, arrives on time. It was also the only passenger train to use the station that day, as the northbound Overlander terminated at Hamilton. Photo: Andrew James

Signallers Tom Davis (left) and Chris Marshall operate the panel. Photo: Veolia Transport

Tom Davis operates a signal lever. Photo: Veolia Transport

Tom Davis greets Overlander driver Barry Cryer. Photo: Veolia Transport

The signal for departing trains changes to red for the last time. Photo: Andrew James

The decommissioning team arrive. Photo: Andrew James

And one more photo of the last significant train to use the yard and platform, an excursion run by the Railway Enthusiasts Society.

Ja 1250 "Diana" waits at Papakura Platform 3 on 19 May 2012, before departing for Te Kuiti

All working

New signals at Papakura are operating. As a result of the loss of tracks, trains are running empty to and from Pukekohe just to get off the platform.

New signals in operation. Note that some work has been done on the east loop

Displaying a "clear, normal speed" indication

A train (ADK 690) departs Papakura

The end of the east loop is now sitting on a mound of ballast

Workers erect a temporary fence where the west loop used to be

A freight train heads to Tauranga

New signals and old yard

The end of Queen's Birthday weekend saw the new signals being turned on and tested, and the old loops lifted to make way for new platforms.

Crossover work south of the station just about complete

The disconnected east loop, which will become the freight line. Note the signal sitting in the middle of the track: one like this existed at Wiri as well

The west loop is just about gone

Various new signals now operating at the south end of the station

New signals at the north end

These posts are used by staff to tell the signalling system that a train is waiting to depart (in either direction). Another pair has been installed by the lift

Tracks stored on the suburban track (Platform 3). Pits where the sleepers used to sit are also evident

A forklift places track on the pile

And so it begins

Today (2 June), the old signalling system was decommissioned and signals went blank. Work also began on disconnecting the yard (including Platform 3).

Platform 3 fenced off

Old signals displaying nothing, with new signals yet to be commissioned

Platform 3 and the two west tracks disconnected from the mainline

Replacing the south end turnout with straight track

Turnout work near the new backshunt at the south end of the station