A major railway signalling technology change was successfully completed in Wellington this weekend.
Control of signalling at the entry to Wellington Station was switched to a computerised system, from a mechanical relay system dating from the 1960s. Signalling is the rail equivalent to traffic lights, directing the flow of trains on different lines.
Wellington Region Rail Programme Director David Gordon said staff worked around the clock over the weekend to make the change, ready for peak services this morning.
“It was mostly ‘behind the scenes’ work with signalling staff moving a lot of wires around,” David Gordon said.
“We spent most of Sunday testing that the new system worked, ready for Tranz Metro trains to run again on Monday morning.
“The work represents a 50 year leap forward in technology – which can be best explained by the move from an old wooden desk with levers to a bank of computer screens.
“While there won’t be any immediate difference in signalling, long term the technology changeover will improve the robustness of Wellington’s rail network.”
The signalling change was a necessary part of the project to install a third main line at the entry into Wellington Station. Once complete in 2010, the third line will reduce congestion at a bottleneck in Wellington’s rail system.
The installation of the third line is one element in the ongoing Wellington rail upgrade, the Wellington Region Rail Programme. More than $550 million is being spent in the joint initiative between the Greater Wellington Regional Council and KiwiRail (ONTRACK and Tranz Metro) to improve Wellington rail.
The Wellington Region Rail Programme includes:
• A fleet of new electric trains – the Matangi trains
• Extension of electrification and double tracked lines to take commuter services to Waikanae;
• Installation of power supply equipment and railway signalling;
• Adding another line into Wellington Railway Station to reduce delays;
• Making the Johnsonville Line tunnels larger; and
• Improving a number of platform and station facilities.