Rail Crossings Policy

This page relates to the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

 This is the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy on rail crossings.

Date of issue: Updated September 2023 | NZTA may review and amend investment policies at any time, including in response to any changes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport.

Purpose

This policy outlines construction, renewal or maintenance of rail crossings eligibility for funding from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF).

Policy statement

Eligibility for funding assistance

Construction, renewal or maintenance of rail crossings is eligible for funding assistance from the NLTF. Policies in this knowledge base, including work categories, provide more specific information about eligibility and exclusions. Funding applications from approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) should be made in accordance with their responsibilities under the Land Transport Management Act 2003 and the Railways Act 2005.

Land Transport Management Act 2003 (external link)

Railways Act 2005 (external link)

Pertinent sections of the act

Part 3 of the Railways Act sets out the legal requirements and responsibilities relating to management of the rail corridor.

The sections of the act that especially affect approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) are:

• s 74 – railway drains
• s 75 – easements over railway land
• s 76 – lights and signs near a railway
• s 77 – prevention of damage to railway
• s 81 – warning devices at level crossings
• s 82 – gates and cattle stops
• s 83 – maintenance of railway crossings
• s 84 – management of railway along or across a road
• s 86 – rights of entry
• s 87 – maintenance of rail infrastructure on roads
• s 88 – notice before alteration of rail infrastructure on roads
• s 91 – charging for access to road reserve.

Qualifying for National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) consideration

Rail crossing activities that qualify for inclusion in the NLTP include:

• Work category 321: new traffic management facilities for construction of a rail crossing
  Work category 321: new traffic management facilities

• Work category 131: level crossing warning devices
  Work category 131: level crossing warning devices

• Work category 181: national rail network investment – limited to rail crossing activities undertaken by Kiwirail in accordance with the approved Rail Network Investment Programme.
  Work category 181: national rail network investment (webpage yet to come)

Submitting activities for NLTP consideration and funding approval

Approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) submit these activities using the improvement template in Transport Investment Online (TIO).

Transport Investment Online (external link)

Maintenance of a rail crossing will be part of an approved maintenance programme entered into TIO through the maintenance, operations and renewals template.

The Rail Network Investment Programme prepared by KiwiRail and its funding is approved by the Minister of Transport in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act 2003, section 22B and 22F respectively.