KiwiRail’s Interislander ferries are extensions of State Highway 1 and the main trunk line across the Cook Strait, linking road and rail networks between the North and South Islands via CentrePort’s Wellington and Port Marlborough’s Picton ferry terminals.
The Interislander Cook Strait service currently operates 3,700 services a year, carrying 850,000 passengers, 260,000 cars, 1.2 million lane metres of trucks and 560,000 lane metres of rail freight. Auckland to Christchurch is one of the most important routes on the rail network and is in high demand with freight customers.
The terminal infrastructure in both Picton and Wellington needs to be redeveloped and configured to support the larger ferry dimensions and capacity of the new ships. This project is a transformational investment in critical infrastructure to support a service that is truly an iconic New Zealand experience. This once-in-a-generation investment is expected to generate significant tourism, economic and environmental benefits for the whole of New Zealand.
Martinus has been contracted to undertake civils and railway construction of the new rail yards at the upgraded Inter-islander terminal in Waitohi, Picton as well as the upgrade at Spring Creek, including
- Formation, and drainage
- Retaining wall
- Ballast cartage with Martinus Locomotives and wagons
- 3km of ballasted track
- 46 turnouts
- Walking surfaces
- Installation of ducting and chambers for signals, communications, and power connections
- Yard lighting installation
- Utilities, kerbing & pavement around the new mechanical depot
- Installation of track into the depot including both slab and pedestal
- Re-fuelling system for the mechanical depot, including specialised slab track for spills collection, tank, pipe work and the bowser.
- Deluge system for emergency use for leaking LPG tanks on wagons
- 2 Edilon Sedra slab track level crossings
- Fencing
