The State Highway 1B Telephone Road rail crossing has been closed since the tracks were damaged by a truck in April 2022. Since then, an investigation into options for the long-term future of the crossing was commissioned and the options established.
The rail crossing was closed due to repeated incidents where low vehicles damaged the railway tracks, raising the risk of a derailment for the approximately 38 trains a day which use this line.
The railway line is higher than the road on either side of it and this has caused some longer and lower trucks to scrape and dislodge sections of track as they cross.
Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail made the decision to close the crossing while the future of this intersection was decided.
This rail crossing has been assessed by KiwiRail as being one of the most dangerous of 1300 public rail crossings in New Zealand, using the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM).
Waka Kotahi commissioned a detailed investigation into the options for the long-term future of the crossing.
In late 2023 NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi together with Waikato District Council conducted a survey of the community about the ongoing closure:
SH1B Telephone Road rail crossing community survey analysis [PDF, 210 KB]
The investigation looked at all the available options, including those suggested by the community.
Read the investigation report [PDF, 5.3 MB]
Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail and Waikato District Council all agree there are viable and safe options for reopening the rail crossing. These options all involve rebuilding the crossing and the adjacent intersection, as the low-cost options put forward do not meet safety requirements.
While there are viable and safe options for reopening the rail crossing, Waka Kotahi does not have funding available during the current funding cycle (the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme). However, we will put this project forward for consideration in the 2024-2027 funding cycle.
This means that for the foreseeable future, the rail crossing will remain closed to all traffic.
Waka Kotahi acknowledges the impact this has had and will continue to have on the lives of some residents who live on or near Telephone Road and we thank you for your understanding.
A small community group of representatives will meet with Waikato District Council, KiwiRail and Waka Kotahi to discuss the options in the report further and determine which option is put forward for funding.
This does not guarantee that the project will receive funding as all projects across the country are weighted and scrutinised to determine priorities. To better understand Waka Kotahi’s funding process, visit the National Land Transport Programme page.
National Land Transport Programme
In the short term, Waka Kotahi is planning to build a pedestrian/cyclist crossing over the railway line, with a school bus stop on the Holland Road side, subject to final approval from KiwiRail.
The rail crossing was closed due to repeated incidents where low vehicles have damaged the railway tracks, raising the risk of a derailment for the approximately 38 trains a day which use this line.
The railway line is higher than the road on either side of it and this has caused some longer and lower trucks to scrape and dislodge sections of track as they cross.
Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail made the decision to close the crossing while the long-term future of this intersection is decided.
CloseThis rail crossing is currently assessed by KiwiRail as being one of the most dangerous of 1300 public road crossings in New Zealand, using the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM). This is due in large part to the proximity of the Holland Road/Telephone Road/Marshmeadow Road intersection to the crossing. The railway line is one of the busiest in the country with 38 trains a day, and this number is expected to increase.
CloseThe available options with approximate costings are available to view in the report.
Read the investigation report [PDF, 5.3 MB]
The cost of these options range from an estimated $8 million to $11 million.
CloseA Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) analyses a potential project and looks to give a figure for how much value the project will have compared to its cost. In any given funding period, Waka Kotahi will have more projects proposed than there is funding for, so a BCR is used to compare projects across New Zealand to determine which will be funded.
With the opening of the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway a large amount of traffic has shifted away from Telephone Road, making it harder to meet the BCR requirements.
CloseAllowing partial access is risky and is difficult to enforce. Both Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail believe this solution will not provide the necessary levels of safety to allow the rail crossing to reopen.
Restrictive barrier options are generally only used in low-speed environments as they can create hazards for high-speed vehicles. This solution also doesn’t address the issue of the short distance between the rail crossing and the intersection, and the risk to vehicles and trains.
CloseWith the opening of the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway SH1B is undergoing a process known as revocation, where the road reverts from being a state highway to a local road, in this case with Waikato District Council as the road controlling authority.
As part of this process, Waka Kotahi and Waikato District Council need to be in agreement about the current condition of the road and discussions about this intersection are continuing.
Waka Kotahi realises that being used as the SH1B detour has impacted Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road and we are committed to keeping the roads maintained so they are fit for purpose.
Since the Telephone Road rail crossing closure we have funded maintenance on the detour route and we expect to fund further work in the future.
We are also committed to providing accurate signs to help navigation.
CloseFurther work will take place at the rail crossing on Telephone Road to ensure that it remains closed to traffic for the foreseeable future. A crossing for pedestrians and cyclists will be built, subject to final approval from KiwiRail.
Close
