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Tawa Flat deviation

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105-639: The 8.38 miles (13.49 km) Tawa Flat deviation is a double-track section of the Kapiti Line just north of Wellington , New Zealand, with two tunnels; the southernmost section of the North Island Main Trunk railway (NIMT) between Wellington and Auckland. It was built to bypass a limited capacity single track section of the original Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) line which ascended from Wellington to Johnsonville and then descended to Tawa Flat . The original name of Tawa Flat

210-543: A 1 in 110 gradient) and Tawa No. 2 (4,323 metres (14,183 ft) with a 1 in 122 gradient). Tawa No. 2 tunnel, which remains the longest double track tunnel in New Zealand, passes under Newlands and comes out at Glenside , en route to Tawa . A preliminary contract to drive a header through Tunnel No 1 was let to Burnside and Matthews, who commenced work in July 1927. The main contract for double track tunnels and bridges

315-456: A central pier in the middle of the Hutt road was cheaper but bought objections from motorists, and work was suspended for a time. Originally a level crossing was proposed, but strong local objections led to the flyover being built. The current configuration of railway tracks at the south end of Tawa No. 1 tunnel (as shown in the photo at right above) was adopted in 1965 when the down Wairarapa track

420-536: A daily return service to Plimmerton. These locomotives were originally classified as EA class but were reclassified as EO in the early 1980s. In Wellington, they were used to top and tail the train to avoid the need to transfer locomotives from one end of the train to the other as had been the case with the EDs and EWs. The deviation is susceptible in places to flooding, slips, washouts, scouring of bridge abutments and piers, falling trees, fire, earthquakes and tsunamis, with

525-479: A little to the east of the motorway. This was a steel viaduct, 38 metres (125 ft) high and 104 metres (341 ft) long, built in 1903 to replace the original viaduct completed in November 1886. The original structure, constructed with 212,000 superficial feet of kauri timber, was the largest wooden trestle bridge in New Zealand. On 15 December 1951, after 14 years of disuse, the rusting 48-year-old steel viaduct

630-499: A new freight loop at Plimmerton or an improved loop at Porirua (2021/2022; $ 11.09 million); and Plimmerton will get a high capacity train turn-back facility as a terminal station (2021; $ 12.8 million). Power supply upgrades will allow more long (8 car) trains (2020; $ 10.1 million). The single-track section above the coast between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki (known as the North–South Junction ) may also be double tracked through

735-654: A peat swamp, remained single track. Extension of double track from Mackays Crossing to a junction south of the Waikanae River bridge was completed in February 2011 to coincide with the extension of electrification to Waikanae. The North–South Junction section north of the South Junction (north of the former Muri Station, at the top of the Pukerua Saddle) and with five short single-track tunnels to

840-443: A population density of 1,293 people per km . Before the 2023 census, Newlands had a smaller boundary, covering 6.82 km (2.63 sq mi). Using that boundary, Newlands had a population of 7,824 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 549 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 1,068 people (15.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 2,739 households, comprising 3,879 males and 3,942 females, giving

945-405: A report which was deferred until after World War I. In 1923 various options were investigated including tunnels direct from Koro Koro to Linden and Petone to Tawa Flat (though this option would interfere with Hutt traffic and require a sea wall to protect the line along the waterfront). Five options for the deviation were considered. They were: two alternative routes with tunnels from Takapu Road to

1050-547: A series of dams on the eastern side of the valley to pond high water flows and release the water at a controlled rate. Stebbings dam in Glenside, near the north portal of No. 2 tunnel, was completed in 1994 to provide a similar function to control flood water from the west of Glenside. Some work has been done to cut banks away from the track to reduce the risk from small slips and to provide access for track maintenance machinery. Kapiti Line Metlink's Kapiti Line

1155-470: A sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 1,626 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,635 (20.9%) aged 15 to 29, 3,891 (49.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 669 (8.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 60.0% European/ Pākehā , 11.5% Māori , 7.8% Pasifika , 28.7% Asian , and 5.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 35.4, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer

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1260-401: A single long double track tunnel (replacing five short tunnels) or replaced by a less steep deviation; although the proposal in 2007 was to daylight only the northernmost (No. 7) tunnel which is through rock, and have double track north from there. Further extension of the electrification 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north from Waikanae to Ōtaki remains a possibility. The two over bridges of

1365-472: Is te reo Māori for "cluster of hills". A 40 ha area was sold during the 1840–41 land ballots run by the New Zealand Company . There are two theories to the suburb's name. The first is that it was named after Thomas Newland, who arrived in New Zealand from London in 1875 aboard the ship Avalanche and ran a business making glue and oil in neighbouring Johnsonville before becoming manager of

1470-482: Is located where the topography is too steep and hilly for use. Newlands is situated not far from the Wellington Fault , which is capable of producing earthquakes of magnitude 8. The warmest month of the year for Newlands is February, while the coldest month is July. The average high temperature is 14.66 °C and the average low temperature is 11.95 °C, making the climate fairly moderate throughout

1575-516: Is narrow, close to the rail in many places, and often runs at full capacity during floods. Some stream diversions have brought the stream closer to the railway, such as the Tawa School diversion in the mid-1950s that cut off a meander of the stream through the centre of the school. It was achieved by cutting a new channel alongside the railway. The Tawa Street, McLellan Street, and Collins Avenue road bridges all have limited flood capacity and add to

1680-546: Is served by several bus services which link it to the wider Wellington area, operated by Newlands Coach Services on behalf of Metlink Wellington . Several of these services link Newlands with the nearby Johnsonville , where further transport options are available. Newlands Coach Services operates a bus depot next to the State Highway 1 overbridge. Newlands is within the enrolment zones for Newlands College , Newlands School and St Oran's College . Newlands College

1785-535: Is the electrified southern portion of the North Island Main Trunk railway between New Zealand 's capital city, Wellington , and Waikanae on the Kāpiti Coast , operated by Transdev Wellington on behalf of Greater Wellington Regional Council . Trains run frequently every day, with stops at 16 stations. Until 20 February 2011 it was known as the Paraparaumu Line. The Kapiti Line was constructed by

1890-613: The Johnsonville Branch . English Electric DM/D class electric multiple units entered service on the branch on 4 July 1938. The first section of the Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway , which opened in December 1950, broadly follows the route of the former railway line from Johnsonville to Takapu Road. The Belmont viaduct north of Johnsonville, between what is now Paparangi and Granada, could be seen

1995-533: The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (W&MR) as part of its line between Wellington and Longburn , south of Palmerston North . It was built by a group of Wellington businessmen frustrated with the indecision of the government about the construction of a west coast route out of Wellington. Construction of the line began in September 1882 and followed a circuitous, steep route via Johnsonville . It

2100-410: The double tracking of the single track line between Mackays Crossing (between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu) as far as the rail underbridge and river bridge south of Waikanae. The $ 90 million project started in December 2008, and was completed in 2011, with the first commuter trains to Waikanae on 20 February. Completion of the project was delayed to 2011 to minimise commuter disruption by working in

2205-556: The 9 February 1951 by the New Zealand Geographic Board. As part of the work associated with the deviation, land was reclaimed from the harbour and new up (northbound) and down (southbound) tracks for the deviation were laid to the east of the existing Wairarapa line. The old Kaiwarra station and signal box were removed and two new island platforms were constructed, the western platform for the Wairarapa line and

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2310-464: The Devil's Elbow came close to the original railway line on what is now Duncan Street. It was cut off and filled to allow for the construction of the new railway line and the new Tawa Flat Railway Station and rail yard. Rowells Road, which crosses the railway over the northern portal of Tunnel No. 2, provides access to properties on the eastern side of the railway north of the tunnel portal. One house in

2415-705: The EDs by 1981 and the EWs by 1988. From 2010 the introduction of the Matangi EMUs provided extra passenger capacity, and enabled the remaining DM/D EMUs to be withdrawn in 2012. A second batch of Matangi EMUs was then ordered to replace the EM/ET EMUs (rather than reconditioning them). A proposal to extend the electrification to Waikanae was approved by the Greater Wellington Regional Council on 8 May 2007. This project included

2520-607: The Greater Wellington Regional Council investigated extension of the electrification with Matangi trains north of Waikanae to Ōtaki (estimated cost $ 30 million for the Ōtaki project) and north of Upper Hutt to a new station at Timberlea. In March 2014, the GWRC said that electrification to Ōtaki was estimated to cost $ 115 million to $ 135 million and was too costly for the number of new passengers it would attract (approximately 250 new passengers). Because

2625-660: The Green Party proposed extending electrification to Ōtaki as an alternative to the Northern Corridor extension from Pekapeka. In the lead up to the local authority elections of 2019, candidate for Mayor of the Kāpiti Coast District, Gwynn Compton, started a petition to extend electrification to Ōtaki. During the 2020 general election the National Party announced that National would extend

2730-653: The Kapiti Line from mid-2011. Paraparaumu and Waikanae stations were upgraded at a cost of more than $ 1 million each. Upgrading Waikanae station rather than moving it south of Elizabeth Street or providing a road underpass was criticised locally, as frequent closing of the Elizabeth Street level crossing south of the station (which connected to State Highway through the town) could increase traffic congestion in Waikanae. However this has since been alleviated by

2835-538: The Korokoro Stream near Petone, a tunnel from Takapu Road to a point a little southwest of the Horokiwi Stream on the harbour edge, an alternative northern portal for the northern of the two tunnels constructed (Tawa No.2 tunnel), and the chosen route. The total cost of the deviation was estimated at £1,409,000. Rock excavated from the tunnels was to be used for harbour reclamation to provide access to

2940-535: The NIMT and the Wairarapa Line separate. Previously there were regular delays when trains crossed from one track to another at 30 km/h. A bridge (67 m) was constructed between the two tunnels to cross State Highway 1 where it commences an ascent of Ngauranga Gorge . Six new railway bridges were constructed on the section of track from the northern portal of Tawa No. 2 tunnel at Glenside to just north of

3045-564: The North Junction (at the northern portal of No 13 tunnel) before Paekakariki and along the coast below the steep and unstable Paekakariki Escarpment remains as a single track. From electrification in 1940 until the 1980s, the majority of commuter services on the line were operated by DM/D electric multiple units , with some carriage trains hauled by ED and EW electric locomotives , particularly at peak periods. ED and EW locomotives also hauled freight trains over this section until

3150-618: The North and South junctions and the need with "tablet" working to continuously man five stations with 3 or 4 tablet porters at each station (3 tablet porters at Porirua, Paremata and Pukerua Bay; and 4 tablet porters at Tawa Flat and Plimmerton); so requiring 19 men for traffic working instead of 8 with CTC (and also 11 staff houses). CTC working applied between Paekakariki and Plimmerton on 25 February, Plimmerton and Paremata on 30 June and Tawa to Porirua on 4 December 1940; giving full traffic control from Wellington to Paekakariki (as Wellington to Tawa

3255-456: The Peka Peka to Otaki expressway which opened in 2022 were designed to allow for a future double track line. A group known as "Save Kapiti" is actively campaigning for the extension. The Otaki Community Board also supports the extension of electrification. Provision has been made during road earthworks north of Waikanae for a future crossing loop between Peka Peka and Ōtaki . In 2012

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3360-637: The Pukerua Bay saddle were later double-tracked. As part of the Plimmerton to Paekakariki duplication, a Westinghouse three-wire (two feed and one return) Centralised Train Control (CTC) system was installed in 1940; to control trains from Wellington. It was the first CTC system in New Zealand and the first outside the United States of America. This avoided the need for two new signal boxes at

3465-690: The Second World War Miles subdivided for housing; initially in Wakely Road, then in Miles Crescent, Lyndfield Lane, Black Rock Road and Glanmire Road. Ernest Hoskings grazed his dairy herd in Johnsonville, Newlands and Horokiwi. Newlands was the location of the 1923 "Newlands Baby Farmers", where Daniel Cooper was found guilty and executed for murder , performing illegal abortions and baby farming . Brandon's Rock,

3570-470: The Takapu Road railway station to allow the railway to cross the stream as it followed the stream down the narrow valley floor. From the last bridge, just north of Takapu Railway Station, to Porirua, the railway remains on the eastern bank of the stream. After Takapu Road the valley widens into Tawa Flat where the stream meanders over the valley floor. One meander on the former Ranui Golf Course known as

3675-646: The WMR, wound up the south side of the Ngaio Gorge with steep grades, tight curves, and tunnels with curves in them, to Ngaio, Khandallah, and Johnsonville before descending through difficult hilly country to Tawa Flat. The new line split from the existing line at Thorndon, where the old line began its ascent to cross the Hutt Road toward Wadestown and Johnsonville. It shared tracks with the Wairarapa Line to

3780-612: The Willowbank area, just south of Takapu Road, was provided with an underpass to give access to the road. North of the tunnels, there are two road crossings. A bridge was constructed over the new railway at the south end of Takapu Road station to provide road access from the Main Road to the Takapu valley. This bridge now also provides access to the motorway interchange, Grenada North, and the supermarket on Takapu Island, an area between

3885-666: The benefits. The detailed analysis for Raumati (which was a "viability benchmark" for other new stations) said that the modelled peak-hour patronage needed to be about 300 new passengers to justify a new station, and that most Raumati users would have switched from Paraparaumu Station. Network extensions beyond the current Metlink rail operation limits would be by "shuttles or non-electrified services" running to Wellington. Proposed infrastructure upgrades include sleeper replacement in tunnels, stabilisation of high-risk slopes and renewal of one bridge with timber elements. To cater for freight trains with more frequent passenger trains, there will be

3990-431: The boundary of present-day Tawa College and Tawa Intermediate. at Mt Misery The deviation was the first stage of the electrification of the NIMT railway from Wellington to Paekākāriki, and duplication to Pukerua Bay. It saved 2.5 miles (4.0 km), lowered the summit level from 518 feet (158 m) south of Raroa to 195 feet (59 m) at the north portal of No 2 tunnel, and reduced the maximum gradient from 1 in 36 (on

4095-465: The catch points and two cross-overs of the siding were lifted, and Mackays Crossing became the point where the double-track section north ended. Further duplication was delayed in the 1940s but continued in the 1950s with the completion of the Tawa to Porirua section on 15 December 1957. Double track from Porirua to Mana was opened on 7 November 1960. Harbour reclamation allowed mostly straight track with

4200-480: The census's question about religious affiliation, 44.4% had no religion, 32.8% were Christian , 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs , 7.5% were Hindu , 2.7% were Muslim , 2.4% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 2,067 (33.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 636 (10.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,479 people (23.9%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

4305-483: The city centre and to the east of its nearest neighbour Johnsonville . It has a long history of early settlement and originally was farmed including being the early source of Wellington's milk. Newlands is located in a valley and covers two ridgelines, the side of one of which overlooks Wellington Harbour and up to the Hutt Valley . The area that modern Newlands occupies was originally known as Papararangi which

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4410-639: The climb up the bank between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay. The grade in the opposite direction was 1 in 100 on the climb south from Tawa to Takapau Road and the north portal of No 2 tunnel. In 1914 the NZR General Manager E. H. Hiley told parliament that the Johnsonville-Wellington section of the NIMT was approaching capacity, and in 1915 NZR district engineer A. Kock and the Public Works Department submitted

4515-473: The completion of the Tawa Flat deviation. From 24 July 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekākāriki was electrified at 1500 V DC overhead, being delayed by the late delivery of some items from England. Electrification eliminated the smoke nuisance in the tunnels, but the lining of the two Tawa tunnels remain coated with a thick layer of soot. Further extension of the electrification north from Paekākāriki

4620-406: The deviation between 1935 and 1940 but were generally prohibited from operation on the line after electrification due to the smoke nuisance in the tunnels. With the completion of electrification in 1940, ED class locomotives, first introduced in 1938 for use on this line, were used to haul all goods and passenger trains between Wellington and Paekākāriki. DM/D electric multiple units first ran on

4725-428: The deviation. To reduce potential delays, "Stop and Proceed" signals were installed allowing trains that stopped at a red signal to proceed past the red signal at low speed and close up behind a previous train. Telephones were also provided at signals and other strategic points to enable train crews to contact Train Control. Tawa Flat station was equipped with crossovers, a loop, and a siding. A miniature lever frame in

4830-507: The eastern platform for the new line to Tawa Flat. This arrangement changed in 1965 when the down Wairarapa line was shifted to the east and the western platform was then used for northbound trains and the eastern platform for southbound trains. Hutt line trains were timetabled to stop at Kaiwharawhara while Kapiti Line trains stopped on request only to pick up passengers waiting on the up or northbound platform or to drop off passengers on down or southbound trains. Little used, Kaiwharawhara station

4935-485: The electric commuter rail service to Ōtaki and fast-track a four-lane expressway from Ōtaki to Levin. A business case for extending the line further to Levin has been pushed for by transport minister Michael Wood in 2022, adding an extra 35 km to the line, going past Ōtaki and possibly including Te Horo and Manakau . Newlands, New Zealand Newlands is one of the northern suburbs of Wellington , New Zealand . It lies approximately 8.1 km north of

5040-650: The first tunnel and to enlarge the rail yard in Wellington. The deviation of about 7 miles (11.3 km) as the Wellington-New Plymouth Line (Wellington - Tawa Flat Deviation) was authorised by the Railways Authorisation Act, 1924. The deviation was running generally to the eastward of the existing Wellington - New Plymouth railway. As built there were two long tunnels; Tawa No. 1 (1,238 metres (4,062 ft) with

5145-486: The first tunnel was built in the harbour. Including the engine shed and goods yard, 68 acres (28 ha) of the harbour was filled in costing £490,000. A "Hutt Road" flyover was constructed over the two tracks of the Wairarapa Line and the four lanes of the Hutt Road south of the Tawa No. 1 tunnel from the new roadway, Aotea Quay. As the flyover crosses them at an angle of 60 degrees it is 48.8 metres (160 ft) long. Using

5250-489: The floors of the tunnels between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki were lowered in 1967 and DA diesel locomotives could be used into Wellington. In 1948 the traffic over the 24 mile (38.5 km) Wellington to Paekakariki section averaged 30 passenger trains, 18 goods trains and 13 light engines (ED class) daily, with 67 daily crossings; opinion was that train delays were less frequent and of shorter duration with CTC than with Tyers Tablet control in 1937. The average tons per train

5355-482: The gradients and curves. ED locomotives were found to be hard on the track and not suitable for passenger trains but were however still seen hauling some goods trains and shunting services, and occasionally passenger trains. The need for electric locomotives on the line progressively reduced and was eventually eliminated due to: the lowering of the floors of the Paekākāriki tunnels giving increased clearances that allowed

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5460-401: The gradients from Wellington up to Ngaio (which sometimes required banking engines) limited the capacity of the line. The deviation provided double track from Wellington to Tawa Flat. With double track, the frequency of train services is largely determined by the spacing of signals which sets the following distance of trains. The capacity of the line was significantly improved when the deviation

5565-487: The greatest risks in the section from Glenside to Takapu Road. In the past, the line has been closed for short periods due to fires, flooding of the Kaiwharawhara stream, a burst stormwater pipe near the southern portal of No. 2 tunnel, and minor slips and falling trees between Glenside and Takapu Road. Heavy rain events in the Tawa valley catchment area cause the stream through the valley to flood. The stream channel

5670-513: The highest point in Newlands, has a history of its own. Brandon's Rock was named after distinguished lawyer and politician Alfred de Bathe Brandon. Brandon also happened to be the father of the mayor of Wellington, who held the position from 1893 till 1894. Traces of gold were discovered on Brandon's Rock by prospectors in 1870, but tests showed that the gold was not pure enough and the search for

5775-520: The imaginary line between it and Point Gordon. A war memorial was erected after World War I at the crossroads of the gorge road; the original memorial was replaced after World War II because of road widening. Listing local dead from both world wars, it is now located on the corner of Newlands and Wakely road Newlands, comprising the statistical areas of Newlands North, Newlands East and Newlands South, covers 6.87 km (2.65 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 8,880 as of June 2024, with

5880-569: The initial climb out of Wellington) and then 1 in 40 (to Ngaio and Khandallah ) to a maximum of 1 in 110 in No 1 tunnel and 1 in 122 in No 2 tunnel. Previously the maximum load out of Wellington for a locomotive was 175 tons, and some trains were banked and then re-formed at Johnsonville . The new NZR Ka class steam locomotives could haul 600 rather than 280 tons, although further north between Plimmerton to Paekākāriki they were limited to 490 tons. Hence electrification extended to Paekākāriki, so including

5985-448: The larger DA class main line diesel locomotives to operate on long-distance goods and passenger trains from 1967; diesel locomotives replacing electric locomotives on shunting services; the subsequent phasing out of all shunting services; and the arrival of the EM class electric multiple units in the 1980s that eliminated the need for electric locomotives on suburban passenger trains. Eight of

6090-429: The level crossing. Additional railway stations have been proposed at Glenside , north of the northern portal of Tawa No. 2 Tunnel to serve Glenside, Churton Park and other expanding residential areas near Johnsonville, and underground at Newlands in No. 2 Tunnel to serve Newlands. Since the original opening, parking spaces have been provided at Takapu Road, Redwood, and Tawa stations to allow people to park and ride

6195-550: The line are two "cross-tie" substations at Ngauranga and Tawa, which provide a switching function but don't have transformers or rectifiers. Public road-rail crossings have warning lights and barriers, and some are now fitted with automatically locking pedestrian gates to prevent use while alarms are operating. In 2021 upgrading of the Plimmerton railway station started, to be completed by 2023. Some trains will then turn around at Plimmerton rather than Porirua thus increasing

6300-479: The line between Wellington and Tawa through Johnsonville. The deviation required the construction of two significant tunnels between Kaiwharawhara and Tawa . It opened as a single track line to freight on 24 July 1935 and as a double track line to passengers on 19 June 1937. The Wellington to Johnsonville section was retained as the Johnsonville Line . Electrification from Wellington to Paekakariki

6405-582: The line no longer following the curves of the shoreline bays north of Porirua; the previous 200m radius curves had a speed limit of 50 km/h. A new station at Paremata was required, and a new Paremata Inlet bridge. The Mana to Plimmerton section and bridge was opened on 16 October 1961. In conjunction with the extension of electrification to Paraparaumu in March 1983, double-track was extended from Paekakariki to Mackays Crossing on 5 December 1983. The section between Mackays Crossing and Paraparaumu, built across

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6510-482: The line on 5 September 1949. From 1949, ED class , and from their introduction in 1952, EW class electric locomotives continued to haul all long distance passenger and goods trains, shunting services, and some local passenger trains during peak periods as there were not enough electric multiple units for all passenger services. From 1952, the higher powered EW class locomotives were the preferred locomotive for use on passenger trains and for use on this line because of

6615-641: The locomotive-hauled trains and some of the DM/D fleet, last operated on 27 May 2016 when additional FT/FP class (Matangi) multiple units arrived. To provide additional capacity before the arrival of the Matangi multiple units, three EO class electric locomotives, originally purchased in 1968 for use in the Otira Tunnel , were transferred to Wellington in 2007 and with six SE class carriages operated services between 8 December 2008 and 10 October 2011, including

6720-542: The long track sections in the tunnels. Tawa Flat became a "switch out" station as the lever frame could now be "switched out" to automatic double line operation when not required for local signalled movements. Tawa Flat was now only staffed during the day from Monday to Friday or when local control of the signalling was required. The signalling system on the deviation is powered by a 3.3 kV. power distribution fed from Kaiwharawhara that once extended as far north as McKays Crossing. A diesel standby power generator provides power to

6825-674: The manure department of the Wellington Meat Export Company's works in 1892. Thomas Newland was close friends of Walter Futter who owned land in Newlands. The second theory is that it was simply the "New Land" near Johnsonville. The area was mostly used as a pig and dairy farm, providing Wellington most of their town milk supply from the 1920s to the 1950s. Dairy farms were run by Bill Miles of Newlands Dairy Limited who purchased James Purchase’s farm in Glanmire Rd and ran 100 cows, also Pearce and Tristram. After

6930-447: The metal halted for many years. Although another group sought after gold on Brandon's Rock a decade later, this too proved unprofitable. It is thought by some that Gold could still be discovered in the area. Brandon's Rock was nicknamed Nun's Cap by sailors and those familiar with the harbour before the existence of harbour beacons. Sailors learned to use Brandon's Rock as a navigational point and also to avoid Barrett Reef by staying east of

7035-439: The new Distant Junction, where Aotea Quay joins the Hutt Road, where it split from but followed the Wairarapa Line along the waterfront to Kaiwharawhara before climbing a new bank to enter the southern portal of the new No. 1 tunnel (1,238 m). From the northern portal of the new No. 2 tunnel (4,323 m) at Glenside it followed the floor of the Tawa valley down to Tawa Flat where it joined the existing line south of McLellan Street, near

7140-419: The new Tawa Flat station building gave local control of the signalling to allow trains to be passed using the crossing loop, to control shunting movements, and to allow trains to terminated at Tawa Flat and returned to either Wellington or Porirua. As Tawa Flat was the end of the track duplication until 1957 it was staffed, allowing all trains to be switched to the single track and to allow tablets to be issued for

7245-520: The number of trains that the line could carry, duplication and electrification of the line along with other improvements, such as curve easements, was planned and progressed in stages. The first section to bed double-tracked (from Wellington to Tawa Flat (now Tawa) was the Tawa Flat deviation . it bypassed the steep (1 in 36 to 40) grades from Wellington to Ngaio on the Johnsonville Line . The sections from Tawa to Porirua and subsequently from Porirua to

7350-551: The opening of the Kāpiti Expressway which has moved the main road west and out of the centre of Waikanae itself. Ten traction substations along the line take electricity from Wellington Electricity or Electra's 11,000-volt distribution network and transform and rectify it to 1500-volt direct current for the overhead traction lines. The substations are located at Wellington, Kaiwharawhara, Glenside, Paremata, Mana, Pukerua Bay, Paekakariki, Raumati, Lindale and Waikanae. Also along

7455-400: The peak capacity of the line by reducing the number of passengers on trains to Waikanae . For accidents on the single-track section between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki see North–South Junction . Proposals for new stations at Raumati South , between Mackays Crossing and Paraparaumu , and Lindale , north of Paraparaumu near Otaihanga , were on hold, to be reconsidered after 2010, as it

7560-436: The quiet end-of-year holiday period, according to ONTRACK programme director David Gordon. The project involved 50 workers and 20 machines installing 600 traction poles in eight or nine metre deep holes, and laying 30 km of rail and 30,000 sleepers. The project allows commuter services from Waikanae every 15 minutes at peak travel times but more commonly every 30 minutes. The new Matangi electric multiple units were used on

7665-498: The rail and motorway. A level crossing was provided at Tawa Street to give access to Duncan Street and eastern Tawa. The deviation opened to goods trains on 22 July 1935 using a single track, now the up main or northbound track, with tablet working . On 19 June 1937, the new Wellington railway station opened and the deviation opened to passenger trains using both the up and down mains with double line automatic signalling , providing double track running from Wellington to Tawa Flat. On

7770-409: The railway stations on the original WMR between Wellington and Johnsonville. There were no stations on the old line between Johnsonville and Tawa Flat. New railway stations on the deviation opened at Kaiwara (now Kaiwharawhara ), Takapu Road , and Tawa Flat on the 19 June 1937. The first station on the new route was Kaiwarra , an existing station on the Wairarapa line it was renamed Kaiwharawhara on

7875-406: The risks. Between Glenside and Takapu Road, the six steel bridges built to cross the stream have abutments and piers built on concrete mass foundations without piles. The Tangiwai disaster in 1953 emphasised the susceptibility of these bridges to scouring during floods. To reduce the flood risk in the Tawa valley, the construction of the Johnsonville to Porirua Motorway in 1950 was used to create

7980-424: The route of the old line from Tawa Street to Tawa College. Widening of Duncan Street in the mid-1950s obliterated the remains of the old Tawa Railway Station platform, just north of the northern end of the present northbound Redwood platform, and other evidence of the former railway. The new deviation increased train speeds and reduced travel times between Wellington and Tawa, but curves south of No. 1 tunnel, between

8085-425: The same day, the new stations at Takapu Road and Tawa Flat (now Tawa) opened to passengers and the railway connection between Johnsonville and Tawa was severed. With the completion of the deviation, the old single track railway line from Wellington to Tawa Flat was terminated at Johnsonville, electrified, equipped with a fully automatic electric signalling system to allow the automatic running of trains and renamed

8190-473: The signalling system during a general power outage so that diesel-powered trains may continue to operate on the line. The power distribution line was principally overhead but in cable through the tunnels and for other short lengths. In conjunction with work on the upgrading of the HVDC Inter-Island link in the early 1990s, the 3.3 kV distribution from the northern portal of No. 2 tunnel to Takapu Road

8295-414: The single track section to Porirua. In conjunction with the completion of the double track from Tawa Flat to Porirua on the 15 December 1957, the capacity of the line was further improved with the installation of additional signals in No. 2 tunnel and between Takapu Road and Tawa Flat to allow trains to run at two-minute intervals between Wellington and Porirua. DC immune AC coded track circuits were used on

8400-407: The station to allow trains to terminate at Tawa Flat and return to Wellington or Porirua. A siding was provided for freight. The stationmaster's office included a signal indicator panel and miniature lever frame to enable station staff to signal trains. Because Tawa Flat was at the end of the railway track duplication it was a permanently staffed station until the 15 December 1957 when the duplication

8505-491: The ten ED locomotives were withdrawn from service in 1969 and the remaining two in March 1981. The last EW hauled passenger service was on 11 February 1983. The DM/D electric multiple units introduced in 1949 were largely replaced by EM class electric multiple units introduced between 1982 and 1983 but some continued to operate at peak periods until 2011 when FT/FP class (Matangi) multiple units began operation. The EM/ET class multiple units, which were introduced to replace

8610-536: The trains into Wellington. In 1925, the Merz & McLellan Report pointed out that electrification would remove the need to relieve the steep (1 in 57) gradients to the Pukerua Bay summit by a deviation to the east, and was desirable in the planned long No. 2 tunnel to eliminate the smoke problem. Electrification of the line from Wellington to Paekākāriki was approved in 1933 with completion planned to coincide with

8715-401: The trip would take over an hour, new trains with toilets would be required. As an alternative to electrification, it was suggested that diesel multiple units could be used on services north of Waikanae. This could be a "final nail in the coffin" for the under-threat Capital Connection service from Wellington to Palmerston North, which also stops at Ōtaki. During the 2017 general election ,

8820-447: The tunnels, and between the northern portal of No. 2 tunnel and Tawa prevent trains from maintaining full line speeds over the full length of the deviation. On 15 December 1957, double track from Tawa Flat to Porirua was completed and additional signals installed between Kaiwharawhara and Tawa Flat. This further increased the capacity of the line and allowed more frequent services between Wellington and Porirua. The deviation bypassed all

8925-452: The valley, a new railway station was provided on an island platform, below and 400 metres north of the old station. The new Tawa Flat Station was equipped with a stationmaster's office with a ticket sale window opening to an enclosed waiting room, toilets for men and women, a luggage and parcel storage room, and a signal relay room. A crossing loop was provided on the western side of the up and down mains and crossovers provided north and south of

9030-463: The year ending June 2015. Tawa Flat Railway Station was renamed Tawa Railway Station on 23 February 1959 in conjunction with the change of name of the Borough of Tawa Flat to the Borough of Tawa. The area then became known as Tawa. The old Tawa Flat Railway Station, with mechanical signals and a signal box, was located on what is now Duncan Street. As it was bypassed by the new line on the floor of

9135-417: The year without major fluctuations. Newlands town centre contains a New World supermarket, a community centre and medical services along with several other stores. Johnsonville mall and nearby public facilities are also a short distance away. The Newlands Community Centre was opened in 2009 and is home to a drop in centre, Newlands Toy Library and many community groups. Newlands Volunteer Fire Brigade

9240-563: Was 474 tons per train northward and 473 southward, with passenger trains just over 560 tons in aggregate. From 1982, the new EM/ET electric multiple units were delivered. They had been ordered to replace the wooden carriage trains hauled by electric locomotives on commuter services and largely displaced the DM/D units on the Paraparaumu Line. By the 1980s, the ED and EW electric locomotives were not required for either freight trains or for commuter trains. They were retired due to age and lack of use,

9345-624: Was advertised throughout the Empire but no satisfactory tenders were received, so the Public Works Department took over the whole job in May 1928. Work started from both portals, and also from a ventilation shaft with an entrance near the (superseded) Belmont Viaduct to Tunnel No 2. The walls were of two foot (nearly 610 mm) concrete, and the tunnels were about 6 metres (20 ft) high and 7.8 metres (26 ft) wide. The bank to

9450-548: Was changed to Tawa in 1959. When opened to passenger trains in June 1937, the deviation reduced the travel time from Wellington to Porirua by 15 minutes, to 27 minutes rather than 43 to 48 minutes. By 2016, the time from Wellington to Porirua had further reduced to 21 minutes for stopping trains, despite extra stops at Redwood, Linden, and Kenepuru which each add 48 seconds to the travel time, and to 17 minutes for non-stopping trains. The original line from Wellington, constructed by

9555-521: Was claimed that there were problems affecting a station at Raumati (the provision of access to SH 1 and park-and-ride facilities) and an unstable hillside behind the line. The 2013 Review and Draft 2014 Review of the Wellington Regional Public Transport Plan confirmed that building additional stations on the Kapiti Line at Raumati and Lindale was no longer recommended, with the cost of new stations outweighing

9660-504: Was closed temporarily on the 13 June 2013 and permanently on the 21 November 2013 after an inspection revealed corrosion of the pedestrian overbridge. The overbridge and passenger shelters have since been removed and trains no longer stop at Kaiwharawhara. With the opening of the deviation, a new railway station was provided at Takapu Road with separate east and west platforms and a simple passenger shelter on each platform. The original shelters were replaced with new passenger shelters during

9765-485: Was completed on 24 July 1940, avoiding the smoke nuisance in the new deviation's lengthy second tunnel, and providing extra tractive effort on the Paekakariki Hill between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki. Paekakariki became a major station where long-distance trains swapped from steam (later diesel ) to electric motive power and became the northern terminus of the commuter line for many years. Electrification

9870-435: Was completed to Paraparaumu on 7 May 1983 and Waikanae on 20 February 2011. Before the deviation, the original single-track line through Johnsonville was nearing capacity. It operated with mechanical signals and an interlocked tablet system that allowed only one train to occupy a section of track between signalled stations at a time. The long single track sections from Johnsonville to Tawa Flat and Tawa Flat to Porirua and

9975-483: Was demolished for safety reasons by Territorial Force engineers as a training exercise using 44 kg of TNT. The original concrete abutments can still be found in the regenerating bush of Seton Nossiter Park. Some of the old route from Takapu Road to Tawa Street can still be found but parts of this section were destroyed by the Taylor Terrace housing development in the late 1950s. Duncan Street in Tawa follows

10080-650: Was double-tracked). From 14 June 1943 a siding for the US Marines' camp at Mackays Crossing with a crossing loop and tablet station was opened; near where the Wellington Tramway Museum is now located. With duplication of the track from Paekakariki to Mackays Crossing and automatic signalling from Paekakariki to Paraparaumu, Mackays Crossing was relay worked from the Paekakariki South signal box from December 1943. But on 25 March 1946

10185-416: Was equipped with a DC immune double line automatic signalling system using AC powered track circuits , searchlight signals , and motorised points. The signalling allowed for automatic double track operation, with up and down lines. This enabled trains to run at six-minute intervals between Wellington and Tawa Flat, but the single line from Tawa Flat to Porirua continued to restrict the number of trains using

10290-531: Was established in 1965 on Newlands Road and has 22 members and one appliance; a 2020 Iveco type 1 pumping appliance. Newlands has a number of parks and reserves, including: Newlands is connected to Ngauranga , and further Wellington via the Ngauranga Gorge towards the South, and through Stewart Drive and Johnsonville to Porirua to the North via State Highway 1 , constructed in the 1960s. Newlands

10395-406: Was extended to Paraparaumu on 7 May 1983 and to Waikanae on 20 February 2011. The W&MR constructed the line as a single-track railway with crossing loops at principal stations to allow opposing trains to pass. In the 1920s the need for extra train services on the line was recognised, both to increase the tonnage of goods trains and to allow more frequent suburban passenger services. To increase

10500-460: Was extended to Porirua. With the extension of the duplication, Tawa Flat became a "switch out" station and was only "switched in" when required to signal shunting or other controlled movements. Later the siding and loop at Tawa were removed and Tawa became an unstaffed station. The original 1937 station building was removed in 2012 and replaced with a passenger shelter. An additional railway station between Takapu Road and Tawa, named Redwood Station ,

10605-548: Was moved from the west to the east of the NIMT tracks and required the replacement of the turnouts at Wellington Distant Junction. This rearrangement was made possible by additional harbour reclamation during the construction of the Wellington Urban Motorway . The new layout reduced junction conflicts further south at Wellington Distant Junction near Aotea Quay and the Rail Ferry Terminal where

10710-399: Was opened at Tawa Street on the 15 December 1963 to provide for new housing development south of Tawa Street, on Taylor Terrace and the northern part of the new Redwood development. The platforms are staggered north and south of the level crossing to prevent prolonged operation of the barrier arms and flashing lights and bells at the level crossing, as trains in either direction stop after using

10815-549: Was opened to Plimmerton in October 1885 and completed on 3 November 1886. The final spike was driven just north of Paraparaumu, at Otaihanga . The government acquired the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company on the 7 December 1908 and incorporated it into its national network as the southern portion of the North Island Main Trunk line. In 1928, work began on a deviation to avoid the difficult section of

10920-479: Was placed underground. The Tawa No 2 Tunnel and a short section of sharply-curved track north of Muri on the North–South Junction are the only sections of the Wellington overhead power catenary system where for technical reasons a modern auto-tensioned overhead system could not be installed; the Hutt Valley Line and the Johnsonville Line were upgraded in 2018-2021. Steam Locomotives hauled trains on

11025-488: Was that 3,720 (60.0%) people were employed full-time, 804 (13.0%) were part-time, and 267 (4.3%) were unemployed. Newlands is approximately 138 m above sea level, with its highest point being Brandon's Rock, which lies along the Paparangi Ridge. The Paparangi Ridge runs along the harbour and stretches from Ngauranga Gorge to Horokiwi. Gilberd Bush Reserve lies to the east of Newlands, towards State Highway 2, and

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