Onehunga Line


The Onehunga Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban train services that operate between Britomart and Onehunga via Newmarket.

Routing

From Britomart to Newmarket, Onehunga Line services use the Newmarket Line, then follow the North Auckland Line to Penrose, where they diverge from the NAL and follow the Onehunga Branch line to Onehunga.

History

The line did not acquire its name until 2010, when the Onehunga Branch line was reopened and passenger services resumed from the Auckland terminus after a lapse of almost 40 years.
The Penrose to Onehunga section of this line was opened on 24 December 1873, and extended to Onehunga Wharf on 28 November 1878. Connecting the port of Onehunga on the Manukau Harbour with Penrose and from there to the port of Auckland on the Waitematā Harbour, the line became a busy link between the two harbours of the rapidly expanding city.
Passenger services between Auckland and Onehunga ran until April 1973. The Onehunga Branch line between Penrose and Onehunga then served local industries until it was mothballed. A campaign to reopen the branch line was launched in mid-2002. On 13 March 2007, the Government announced that it had given approval to spend $10 million on reopening the branch line for passengers and freight.
In mid-2010, construction started on the terminus station at Onehunga, and on Saturday 18 September 2010, reopening ceremonies were held, with Sunday 19 September being the first day of normal passenger services. The cost of reopening the branch line was about $21.6 million, with KiwiRail contributing $10 million, Auckland Regional Transport Authority contributing $3.6 million, and Auckland Regional Council contributing $8 million.
The Onehunga Line was upgraded as part of the Auckland railway electrification programme. It was the first of the four Auckland suburban lines to be commissioned. Installation of overhead wires was completed during the summer shut down from 2011–2012. Electric services began running between Britomart and Onehunga on 28 April 2014.

Stations

Distance from BritomartNameOpenedNotes
7 7 2003
Newmarket20 12 1873
20 12 1873Only in evenings.
20 12 1873Only in evenings.
20 12 1873
24 12 1873
8 4 1877Closed on 19 February 1973 and reopened on 18 September 2010. Services recommenced on 19 September 2010.
20 12 1873Closed on 19 February 1973 and reopened on 18 September 2010. Services recommenced on 19 September 2010.

Services

Suburban services are operated by Transdev under the AT brand.

Proposed airport connection

There is a proposal to create the Auckland Airport Line by extending the Onehunga Branch line to Auckland International Airport over the Mangere Bridge. The bridge was duplicated from four motorway lanes to ten in 2007–10, and Transit New Zealand had announced in 2007 that it was being 'future proofed' to allow it to accommodate a rail line.