Overview

Auckland Transport is developing a new station at Parnell adjacent to the Mainline Steam workshops to the east of the Auckland Domain, and near Cheshire Street, Parnell. 

See Also:
 "Rail designation approval will open up potential of Parnell and Auckland Domain" - Auckland Council 28 November 2011.

Project Extent

• The development area will be referred to as the Mainline Steam site.
• The station will service and integrate both the residential and commercial Parnell communities and surrounding areas of interest. These include primary or secondary connections (see Connectivity and Integration Map)
• through Carlaw Park development site to the university
• to lower Parnell
• up to the heart of Parnell Village via Akaroa Street
• through Ngahere Terrace to upper village
• to Domain from adjacent residential neighbourhood
• with Parnell Road
• to the Domain and Museum
• from Cracroft Street to the Domain and Auckland Museum
• down Heather Street to Stanley Street 
  
The total cost of the project is set at $19.2 million.
 

Background
The Parnell Station Precinct and Station is planned to the following vision from Auckland Transport
• A high quality rail station with strong direct connections to key catchments including Parnell Village, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland University, and Carlaw Park.
• A high quality heritage destination focused around a new Parnell Station that integrates the old Newmarket Station.
• A robust and fully integrated precinct structure that promotes the mixed use urban development and intensification of adjacent under utilised 'brown field' land.
  
Benefits
The Parnell Station Precinct is designed to achieve the following benefits.


Place making
• Creation of a high quality cultural and heritage destination focused around a new Parnell Station that integrates the old Newmarket Station building.
Encourage Public Transport
• Creating a built form that encourages people to ride public transport more often.

Neighbourhood Cohesion
• Integration of Parnell with the Carlaw Park site across the rail corridor and the University beyond.
• Integration of Parnell with the Domain and Auckland War Memorial Museum across the rail corridor.
 
Community Revitalisation
• Mixed use urban development and intensification of brown fields land.

Conservation
• Adaptive re-use and conservation of the old rail workshops.
• Adaptive re-use and conservation of the old Newmarket Station building.
  
Public Safety
• Activate precinct and foster movement and presence.
• Create built in security throughout the day with the presence of diverse/multi-use occupants.
   
 
Features
 
Stage 1 – Enabling Works

Stage 1 will involve enabling works to be undertaken in the 2011/12 Christmas period, when train services will be stopped. The enabling works are required to facilitate the future station construction.

These works include:
• Earthworks to lower the track in order to achieve the appropriate grade for station platforms;
• Retaining structures and/or batter slopes;
• Track realignment to accommodate the station platforms.
• Relocation of the existing underpass which provides access to/from Auckland Domain, in order to maintain existing pedestrian access.
  
Stage 2 – Station Masterplan and Construction

Stage 2 will involve the development of the station masterplan and construction of the new Parnell Railway Station, and is due to be undertaken in 2013/14.

These works will involve:
• The construction of two station platforms located to the northeast of the Mainline Steam building.
• Relocation of the old Newmarket Station and associated signal box to the site.
• New pedestrian connections and pathways.
• Landscaping and planting. 
  
Development Components
The proposed enabling works at the site are required in order to achieve a 1:80 grade on future platforms associated with a new Parnell Railway Station.


The works will involve:
• Track lowering along the existing corridor
• Two retaining walls are required on the western side of the rail corridor
• Batter slopes are required on both the eastern and western side of the rail corridor
• Reconfiguration of the Mainline Steam track infrastructure
• The removal of the existing precast concrete pipe underpass, due to the depth of the track lowering extending into the structure.
• The construction of a new underpass to the north of the existing underpass, some 10 m in length and 2.5 m wide, with a clearance of 2.5 m
• Earthworks are required in order to undertake the track lowering and retaining structures.        
Click on the artist's impression of the Parnell Station and precinct  to see an
enlarged picture and legend.


These works require a major block-of-line (BOL – no trains running on this section of line) because of the scale, complexity, and track and signalling activities. The next available opportunity to undertake works during a BOL is during the 2012/13 Christmas period.
 
The track lowering will involve:
• Dismantling the existing rails and sleepers to stockpile within the rail corridor
• Removing ballast (aggregates) to a depth of approximately 400mm stockpiling within the rail corridor
• Excavating additional cut to the subgrade level of up to 2.5m from the top of the existing rail level
• Constructing formation using GAP65
• Check grade / level/ cross-fall
• Lay ballast aggregate to a depth of approximately 300mm
• Assemble and lay rail track to the position, level and grade.
Removal of existing underpass

The removal of the existing underpass is required to facilitate track lowering. This work will involve
•  Lowering the track formation down to mid culvert height, then cut down the existing underpass culvert at mid height and remove the wing walls

• Pedestrian access to/from Auckland Domain will be maintained throughout the period of works via the existing underpass and/or a temporary rail crossing.
Construction of new underpass

A new underpass will be constructed works which will involve:
• Excavating to the level of the underpass for subgrade preparation
• Construction of underpass involving precast concrete wing walls and precast concrete box units

• Water proofing the sections prior to backfi lling and constructing the rail support and track 
Earthworks

Significant earthworks are required to be undertaken in order to lower the
existing tracks. Construction earthworks will generally involve:
• Excavating soils to form suitable slopes;
• Placement of structural fill, where required;
• Backfilling retaining walls with compacted granular fill. 
Timeline
 
​Enabling works	Masterplan Development​	Station Design​	Station Construction​	Masterplan Implementation​
Dec.  2011​	January 2012​	Feb -Sept  2012​	Late 2013	Ongoing​
Track lowering​ New Underpass Services upgrade	Community and stakeholder consultation Masterplan design​	Design and engineeering Cost analysis​	New side platforms Newmarket Station located Platform shelters Lifts and bridge​	​



Consultation
Significant rail network construction activity is planned to take place during the Christmas rail network shutdown from 19 December 2011 to 28 January 2012. The work area will be between the Parnell tunnel and the bridge over Parnell Rise. 

Auckland Transport held a public information evening about these works on Wednesday 16 November at Parnell Trust Venue, Jubilee Building and has released the details outlined on this site.  A full copy of the information is available (PDF 5.65   MB)
If you wish to comment on the plan or need further information please use the feedback form or phone 09 355 3553.