Supporting New Zealand’s growth through the Papakura to Pukekohe Main Works Project

McConnell Dowell is pleased to announce that eTRACS, a McConnell Dowell-John Holland partnership, has been awarded the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract for KiwiRail’s Papakura to Pukekohe Electrification Upgrade (P2P) in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, the Minister of Transport Phil Twyford, Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff and KiwiRail’ CEO Greg Miller celebrated the start of the Auckland-wide Metro Upgrade Programme at an event on Friday 7 August. At this event the award of the programme’s two key projects, P2P and the Wiri to Quay Park Upgrade were announced.

The Auckland Metro Upgrade Programme and P2P are part of the Government’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme and NZ$6.8 billion investment in transport infrastructure, with NZ$371 million allocated for the Papakura and Pukekohe upgrade.

McConnell Dowell Managing Director for New Zealand and Pacific, Fraser Wyllie welcomed the announcement, saying, “the P2P project will provide an excellent opportunity to support New Zealand’s economic recovery by offering opportunities to communities and businesses impacted by COVID-19. We are excited to be collaborating with KiwiRail, as part of the eTRACS JV, to deliver an innovative, safe and sustainable network upgrade.”

KiwiRail CEO Greg Miller shared the economic benefit of the projects that “will together directly support more than 400 Kiwi jobs, including about 140 from KiwiRail. Additionally, the projects will support Kiwi businesses by predominantly using materials and components supplied by the domestic market.”.

Electrifying the section of the Auckland rail network between Papakura and Pukekohe, is critical to the city’s plans for future growth and will enable more frequent non-stop journeys for southern commuters. Importantly, P2P will also support the additional service capacity the City Rail Link will provide on completion in 2024.

An enabling works phase, ahead of the main contract works, is planned for later in the year with the project scheduled for completion in 2024.

The project will include:

Extending the overhead power system from Papakura to Pukekohe
Existing track and signalling upgrades
Redeveloping Pukekohe station to allow for more services and longer trains
A new substation and train stabling facilities
Future proofing the rail corridor and enabling works for new stations along the route.

For more information about the event please visit: Papakura to Pukekohe Upgrade Project (P2P)