KiwiRail North Auckland Line

The approximately 300km long North Auckland Line (NAL) runs from Westfield Junction at Auckland northwards to Otiria at about 60km north of Whangārei.  The first section of the line was opened to public in 1868 and was completed on 29 November 1925.  Since mid 1970’s, North Auckland Line is mainly utilised to provide freight services between Auckland and Whangarei.

A large portion of the North Auckland Line alignment is underlain by Northland Allochthon materials which are well known for its sensitive nature of slope instability.  KiwiRail has engaged Gaia Engineers to undertake detailed embankment stabilisation design for 9 sites with high geotechnical maintenance issues along the alignment.  In additional, KiwiRail has also engaged Gaia Engineers to carry out geotechnical assessment for 105 sites which require relatively high maintenance costs due to the effects of ground conditions.  The project is currently underway.