Much of the North Island rail network is open with freight and commuter services operating, but significant flood damage has resulted in the line to Northland and between Woodville to Napier remaining closed, says KiwiRail Executive General Manager Operations Paul Ashton

"Over the last week our track teams and engineers, including our Hawkes Bay staff, have been out on the network inspecting the closed rail lines and more detailed assessments are continuing in some places," says Paul.

"We have been clearing fallen trees, debris and rebuilding track in Northland and Hawkes Bay, but the sheer scale of the damage means it will take time before the lines can be reopened."

Paul says in Northland between Swanson and Whangārei, Cyclone Gabrielle caused around 50 slips onto the rail line which require detailed geo-technical assessments, to help ensure repairs prevent any further slips. A number of bridges have also been affected by flood waters.

Massive Northland slip south of Tahekeroa. Photo: NZ Rail.

"The biggest issue is a massive slip south of Tahekeroa between Helensville and Wellsford, where around 25,000 cubic metres of earth fell across the road and rail line during the 27 January weather event," says Paul.

"Enabling works to repair the road and rail line will begin next week and we will need to build a temporary earth bund to make the site safe before we begin removing the slip.

"We are also working on a long-term engineering solution, which will be required to avoid further slips."

Paul says unfortunately, given the size of the slip, the rail line to Northland is expected to remain closed for months.

Hawke's Bay

"In Hawke's Bay we are hoping to reopen the line between Woodville and Hastings in the next three to four weeks, which will allow us to then road freight to and from Napier," says Paul.

"We're still doing detailed inspections of bridges in this section, with Bridge 176 at Waipawa - north of Waipukerau - needing fairly significant repair work."

Bridge 176 near Waipawa. Photo: NZ Rail.

Paul says track inspections between Hastings and Napier have been done and have highlighted the amount of damage during the cyclone.

"We have begun clearing debris from the rail corridor, but in places flood waters have completely undermined the rails.

"Engineering inspections are underway and have so far confirmed damage to Bridge 212 (north of Hastings) and Bridge 216 (north of Clive), with more extensive damage to Bridge 217 (north of Clive), which has lost piers and spans," says Paul.

Repairing this section of line is expected to take months.

Washout between Clive and Napier. Photo: NZ Rail.

"We have been unable to access and inspect the line between Napier and Wairoa but are aiming to start a high-level assessment via helicopter early next week," says Paul.

"Our focus has to be on reopening the rail line to Hastings and then Napier, so at this stage Napier to Wairoa, which is used to transport logs, is expected to remain closed for some time."

Bridge 217 north of Clive. Photo: NZ Rail.

Bridge 216 north of Clive. Photo: NZ Rail.