Johnsonville Branch

Infobox rail line
name = Johnsonville Line

logo_width =


image_width =
caption = A southbound DM class EMU just south of Raroa Railway Station on the Johnsonville Line.
type = commuter rail
system = Metlink
status = Open, passenger only
locale = Wellington, New Zealand
start = Wellington
end = Johnsonville
stations = 8
routes =
ridership =
open = 24 September 1885 (as Wellington & Manawatu Railway)
close =
owner = ONTRACK
operator = Tranz Metro
character = Suburban
stock = DM-class EMUs
linelength = 10.49 km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|42
el =
speed = 64 km/h (maximum)
40 km/h (in tunnels)
elevation = 152 m (Raroa)

BS-table|The Johnsonville Line is a commuter branch line railway owned by ONTRACK, from Wellington, New Zealand to the northern suburb of Johnsonville via Ngaio and Khandallah. Tranz Metro operates the trains under contract from the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

History

The line was built in the 1880s as part of the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company line to connect Wellington to Longburn. Construction started in 1879, and the first section, to Paremata, opened on 24 September 1885. The line became part of the North Island Main Trunk when the government bought the WMR in December 1908.

The line was used by railway workers from the Tarikaka Settlement in Ngaio, including early shift workers needed to fire up steam locomotives at the Wellington depot.

Two experimental RM class railcars were briefly used on the line as NZR sought to develop economically viable railcar technology. The Westinghouse railcar was introduced in 1914 and served through to 1917. The Thomas Transmission railcar was introduced in 1916 and operated sporadically into the early 1920s. Both railcars struggled on the steep grades and revealed that further advances were needed to make railcars suitable to New Zealand's conditions.

The line became a branch when the Tawa Flat deviation of the NIMT opened to passengers in 1937, and was sometimes called The Hill (in NZR jargon). The line was electrified at 1500 V DC overhead supply, and the first passenger train using the new English Electric DM/D class electric multiple units ran on 2 July 1938. The units normal operate as two-car motor/trailer sets, four-car sets in peak hours.

The line was terminated in Johnsonville, about 100 m beyond the end of the current line: the State Highway 1 motorway on-ramp follows the route of the old line. Ngaio and Khandallah stations already had crossing loops, and a third crossing loop (without platform) at Wadestown plus new stations at Awarua Street and Simla Crescent were added.

Stations were added at Raroa (1940), Box Hill (1956) and Crofton Downs (1963). Additional DM/D class units were ordered in 1942 and supplied in 1946.

The line was reviewed in 1984 and 1993 to consider either closing or upgrading it, without any significant changes being made.

Services

A half-hourly service runs daily, augmented to a 13/13/26 minute pattern at peak periods.

The line has been passenger-only since the termination of livestock trains for an abattoir in the Ngauranga Gorge. The livestock were originally driven on foot through Johnsonville streets, but after protests sidings near Raroa were opened on 2 February 1958. The livestock traffic ceased about 1973, though the sidings at Raroa were not lifted until about 1982. Because of the sharp curves on the line, EW class electric locomotives were used for livestock trains instead of the earlier ED class locomotives, which were hard on the track with their long rigid wheelbase.

Infrastructure

The line is single track through very steep terrain rising 150 m above sea level in its 10 km length, with the highest point (152 m) at the north end of No 6 tunnel. It has seven narrow tunnels, six bridges, three passing loops and three level crossings (two with barriers, the Fraser Avenue crossing has warning lights only). The ruling grade is 1 in 36. An estimated 1,200 passengers use the line each working day.

Future

The [http://www.gw.govt.nz/section1705.cfm North Wellington Public Transport Study] by GWRC and WCC considered four options for improved public transport: enhanced rail; bus on street; conversion to a guided busway; and conversion to light rail. On 16 November 2006 the GWRC Public Transport Committee [cite conference |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Order paper for meeting held on 16-Nov-2006 at 11:00AM |booktitle=Proceedings of the Passenger Transport Committee |pages= |publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council |date=2006-11-16 |location=Wellington |url=http://www.gw.govt.nz/section1159.cfm?MeetingID=5980 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |id= ] and the WCC Strategy & Policy Committee [cite conference |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Strategy and Policy Committee meeting agenda |booktitle=Proceedings of the Strategy and Policy Committee |pages= |publisher=Wellington City Council |date=2006-11-16 |location=Wellington |url=http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/meetings/committee/Strategy_and_Policy/2006/16Nov0915/agenda.html |accessdate=2008-07-09 |id= ] accepted a "Do Minimum" option to retain the line without enhancement by replacing the current units with the EM/ET class units used elsewhere in the Wellington urban rail system, and enlarging the tunnels to enable these units and the new FM class units ordered by the GWRC to run on the line. [cite news |first=JES |last=BLAND |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=70 years of clean green trains on the J'ville line |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4612975a27348.html |format= |work=The Wellingtonian |publisher=Fairfax New Zealand |location=Wellington |id= |pages= |page= |date=2008-07-09 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |language= |quote=As for the future of the Johnsonville line, upgrades are already underway to allow for new rolling stock to use to the line in 2010. |archiveurl= |archivedate= ]

The proposed redevelopment of the Johnsonville Town Centre should include improvements to the rail and bus terminal at Johnsonville, and it is proposed to widen the Broderick Road overbridge.

The Wellington City Council has let a $1.7m tender to replace the Rangoon Street single-lane overbridge of c1906 with a two-lane bridge. [ http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=3231 (2008) ] Work is currently underway, and is expected to be completed by early 2009. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Out with the old in with the new |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4662832a27348.html |format= |work=The Wellingtonian |publisher=Fairfax New Zealand |location=Wellington |id= |pages= |page= |date=2008-08-20 |accessdate=2008-08-31 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ]

GWRC envisaged (2007) that the track through the tunnels would need to be lowered by 120 mm, though this depends on the new units [ http://www.gw.govt.nz/story20073.cfm? (16 November 2006) ] . Lengthening of passing loops and platforms may also be needed, and the likely cost is $5 million. A programme of preparatory work required to enable the tunnels to be upgraded commenced on 7 September 2008 with an expected completion date in early December 2008. Construction will take place after 20:00 on Sunday - Thursday nights to minimise disruption to commuters, with services being replaced by buses. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Buses to replace J'ville trains Sunday - Thursday nights |url=http://www.gw.govt.nz/story28721.cfm? |format= |work= |publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council |location=Wellington |id= |pages= |page= |date=2008-09-01 |accessdate=2008-09-05 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] The tunnels will be upgraded in January 2009. [cite web |url=http://www.ontrack.govt.nz/AboutONTRACK/SignificantProjects/WellingtonRegionalRailProgramme/tabid/219/Default.aspx |title=Wellington Regional Rail Programme |accessdate=2008-09-05 |work= |publisher=ONTRACK |date= ] The work includes:
* lengthening the three crossing loops, allowing longer trains
* upgrading platforms
* adjust ing clearances under two bridges.

References

*

Footnotes

External links

* [http://valleysignals.org.nz/johnsonville/johnsonville.html Johnsonville Line: Photos, Signalling]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov12_06Rail-fig-Gov12_06Rail031b.html Photo of one of the last main line trains to enter Johnsonville c1938]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov13_05Rail-fig-Gov13_05Rail019a.html Photo of arrival of the first unit at Johnsonville 1938]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov14_01Rail-fig-Gov14_01Rail043a.html Photo of Johnsonville units at Wellington station c1939]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov14_11Rail-fig-Gov14_11Rail027a.html Photo of multiple unit on the line c1940]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov13_05Rail-fig-Gov13_05Rail018b.html A flashlight photo of passengers inside a unit c1938]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/Gov05_01Rail-fig-Gov05_01Rail031a.html Scene from a loco cab running downhill from Johnsonville c1930]
* [http://www.gw.govt.nz/section1705.cfm North Wellington Public Transport Study]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/enzedrail/mainline/wmr/ Railways of New Zealand: Wellington & Manawatu Railway]
*cite web |url=http://www.ontrack.govt.nz/News/Archive/Johnsonvillebuslane/tabid/132/Default.aspx |title=Johnsonville bus lane – no worries – we’re just the owner |accessdate=2007-10-17 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last=George |first=David |authorlink=ONTRACK |coauthors= |date=2006-08-29 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ONTRACK |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
* [http://www.wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/northerngrowth/johnsonville.html Johnsonville Town Centre Plan]
* [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/opening-the-johnsonville-eletric-train-service "Invitation to Opening" (NZR Publicity picture)]