Key Takeaways
- KiwiRail has removed the tracks between Melling and Western Hutt stations after Melling Station closed for three years on Christmas Eve.
- The closure is part of the $1.5 billion Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi RiverLink project, which aims to shift the station 300 meters south and make way for a new State Highway 2 interchange.
- The project also includes strengthening the city’s flood defences and reorientating the city centre closer to Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River.
- Public transport alternatives have been announced for the roughly 370 weekday Melling passengers, including rerouted bus routes and extra capacity on Hutt Valley Line rush-hour trains.
Introduction to the RiverLink Project
The removal of tracks between Melling and Western Hutt stations marks a significant milestone in the Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi RiverLink project. The project, led by the government, local councils, and mana whenua, aims to transform the Lower Hutt area by shifting Melling Station 300 meters south and making way for a new State Highway 2 interchange. The station’s closure, which occurred on Christmas Eve, is expected to last for three years, with the station set to reopen in late 2028. The RiverLink project is a $1.5 billion initiative that seeks to not only improve the city’s transportation infrastructure but also strengthen its flood defences and reorientate the city centre closer to Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River.
Impact on Melling Station and Passengers
The closure of Melling Station has significant implications for the roughly 370 weekday passengers who use the station. To mitigate the disruption, the Greater Wellington Regional Council has announced public transport alternatives, including rerouted bus routes and extra capacity on Hutt Valley Line rush-hour trains. Bus routes 145 and 149, which previously stopped at Melling Station, will now stop at Waterloo Station, while Hutt Valley Line rush-hour trains will have additional carriages to accommodate the increased demand. Furthermore, Waterloo and Petone stations will have extra bike racks, and there will be more temporary park and ride spaces available at Petone. These measures aim to minimize the impact of the station’s closure on passengers and ensure that they can still access the city centre and other destinations with relative ease.
Project Objectives and Timeline
The RiverLink project has several key objectives, including strengthening the city’s flood defences and building new stopbanks and widening and deepening the river. The project also aims to reorientate the city centre closer to Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River, which will not only improve the city’s aesthetic appeal but also enhance its resilience to natural disasters. The project is expected to take several years to complete, with the new Melling Station set to open in late 2028. In the interim, trains will continue to run on the Melling Line, terminating at Western Hutt station. The Hutt City Council has warned of major disruptions to the city centre’s arterial routes during construction, which started late last year. However, the council and other stakeholders believe that the short-term disruption will ultimately be worth it, as the project will help revitalize the city and improve its transportation infrastructure.
Heritage Listing and Station Relocation
The Melling Station building, which has been closed for several years due to asbestos contamination, has been heritage listed, preventing it from being demolished. Instead, the building will be relocated to the new station site, where it will be incorporated into the modern transportation network. The heritage listing of the building has been a point of contention, with some stakeholders arguing that it would be more practical to demolish the building and construct a new one. However, the building’s heritage status has been recognized, and it will be preserved and relocated as part of the RiverLink project. The relocation of the station building is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution, but it is an important part of the project’s overall objectives.
Conclusion and Future Developments
The removal of tracks between Melling and Western Hutt stations marks an important milestone in the RiverLink project. The project’s objectives, including strengthening the city’s flood defences and reorientating the city centre, are ambitious and will require significant investment and effort. However, the project’s stakeholders believe that the end result will be worth it, as the project will help revitalize the city and improve its transportation infrastructure. As the project progresses, it is likely that there will be further developments and updates, including changes to public transportation and the relocation of the Melling Station building. The RiverLink project is a significant undertaking that will have a lasting impact on the Lower Hutt area, and it will be important to monitor its progress and developments in the coming years.