Transit Accomodates Rimutaka Incline Railway

The proposal to reinstate a railway on the former Rimutaka Incline route between Wellington and the Wairarapa has achieved a significant and early win at Kaitoke with alterations made to the State Highway 2 realignment works.

"Transit is building part of the new highway along the Rimutaka Incline Road route, and as a result, will build a new section of road for the Rimutaka Incline Road. This will be built in such a way to allow for the future reinstated tourist heritage railway." says Transit Communications Advisor Heidi Brook.

The Rimutaka Incline Railway proposal to reinstate the railway between Upper Hutt and Featherston faced being virtually cut in half by the road works, and is grateful for the adjustments made to the new Rimutaka Incline Road. The original plan included a tight-radius vertical curve and steep gradients, which would have required significant work to provide a railway easement for the proposed heritage railway.

Steering Committee member Hugh McCracken attended numerous meetings with Transit and contracted engineers of Opus International Consultants. He prepared plans and revised cross-sections to establish the best way in which to accomodate railway curvature and gradient requirements through the affected area. The new State Highway will pass directly through the former railway formation, the Incline Road being relocated on a new alignment parallel to and immediately to the south of the State Highway. An exploratory alignment for the railway has been drafted, involving a level crossing, a short length paralleling State Highway 2, passing through new cuttings before regaining the original formation a short distance along the Incline Road.

Hugh McCracken assisted Historic Places Trust contracted archaeologist Mary O'Keffe in her investigation of the railway formation, providing additional Railway plan references and interpretation of archaeological features. The area will be surveyed before earthworks commence, recording details of the railway formation, and a long-abandoned road formation that once linked the present highway to a railway overhead bridge.

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