We want to keep trains running efficiently and encourage more people to use them. To do this our local, regional and national offices and project teams undertake a variety of activities that contribute to ensuring the rail network is managed effectively.
ONTRACK’s subsidiary - ONTRACK Infrastructure Ltd – carries out our network maintenance activities. Our role is to coordinate what happens where and when.
Day to day activitiesTo keep trains running efficiently every day we:
- maintain the track, signals and structures
- monitor where trains are and changing the signals to allow trains to run safely.
One-off activities
We act immediately when bad weather or electrical faults affect the track, and make sure trains on the network are safe.
When a lahar swept down Mt Ruapehu in March 2007, we were warned by sensors on the mountain and responded immediately. Two passenger trains were making the Wellington-Auckland journey on the day. Our Train Control team stopped each each train well before they reached the threatened Tangiwai bridge. After the lahar had passed, we inspected the bridge to make sure it was fit to reopen.
Longer term activitiesWe are upgrading and developing the network for passenger and freight traffic around the country.
For example, in Auckland we are upgrading the whole of the metro network and introducing electrification. In Wellington we’re making the existing network more efficient.
We’re also working with industry to identify potential for boosting rail freight use by companies such as Fonterra in Hamilton.
For more information about our longer term work see our projects page.