We're on the home stretch!

Work to commission the upgrades completed late last year and early this year at the railway level crossings on Harewood, Langdons, and Sawyers Arms roads will get underway this weekend.

This process involves decommissioning (or deactivating) the existing bells and flashing lights, and connecting up the new bells, lights and infrastructure, including the signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates.

How the new infrastructure will work

As a train approaches:

• The new traffic lights will turn red as the barrier arms lower, bells sound and lights flash.
• Harewood and Langdons roads only: Automatic railway gates at the level crossing will activate, preventing footpath users from travelling over the railway. (At Sawyers Arms Road, fencing and signage has been used to direct the movement of pedestrians/cyclists left and right to enhance visibility of approaching trains.)

When pedestrians/cyclists want to cross the road at the level crossings*:

• The new traffic lights at the signalised pedestrian crossing will turn red when push-button activated, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the road as traffic waits.

*This will primarily be as pedestrians and cyclists travel north/south along the Northern Line Cycleway, but it will also be of use to those on footpaths approaching from the east/west along the three roads.

Commissioning works

While it is unlikely you will be affected by the minor delays that are expected over the coming days during the commissioning works, the following information provides a heads up about what will be happening and why.

Railway works: 12–14 July

• From tomorrow, Saturday 12 July, until Monday 14 July, KiwiRail will be completing commissioning works on the railway.
• To enable these works to be carried out safely, trains will be travelling slower than usual (10km/h) during this period.
• The existing lights, bells, and barrier arms will continue to operate as normal, but trains will take longer to clear the crossings due to their reduced speed.

Testing of new infrastructure: 15 July

• For the final part of the commissioning process, we will be switching over the railway signalling system to include the new infrastructure and testing it at all three crossings on the same day, Tuesday 15 July.
• Work will be carried out at each level crossing in succession, and temporary traffic lights will be used to stop traffic for up to five minutes at each crossing while the commissioning process takes place.

All going well, from Wednesday 16 July, the level crossing upgrades will be complete.

These upgrades greatly improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists along the continuous 7.5km cycleway from Kilmarnock Street in Riccarton to Northwood.