Middlemore Station
Meet our brand new batch 3 EMUs
The first of our brandnew batch 3 EMUs arrived in the country at the beginning of this month, with the remaining 22 arriving by October 2025. This will bring our total number of EMUs to 95.
AM1005 stretched its wheels for the first time on Tuesday 16 July by running on the new included an ETCS SPAD test, brake pads/disks bedding in runs and a kilometre distance time calculation run to check against actual onboard system data recording. AM1005 is expected to start carrying passengers from December this year. Below, Grant Dowie (far left), Andy Strivens (centre) and Joel O'Dea (second right), together with Christiaan and Aman from KiwiRail, have been lending their expertise to the testing of a section of new track on the Southern Line.
IMPORTANT REMINDER – SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
AOR has a lot of exciting projects happening. Just a reminder that we cannot share any photos on-line, including any social media platforms, without the permission of our partners who are running these projects. Any photos taken of the new EMUs, people working on them in non-public areas, anything that is AT or CRL-related, or KiwiRail projects such as P2P, need to come through AOR comms first. Please follow AOR on LinkedIn and share our updates about these exciting projects with your connections. KiwiRail and CRL also regularly post updates that can be re-shared. If you have any questions, please email: communications@aucklandonerail.co.nz
Pukekohe reaches major milestone
The Papakura to Pukekohe (P2P) overhead line is now electric and EMU OLE testing was successful. Ops Safety Specialist, Grant Dowie, drove the first ever test EMU under its own power all the way to Pukekohe with Safety Assurance/Ops Specialist, Andy Strivens on board. The ETCS was tested the next day and it worked perfectly. Grant and Andy reported no issues with train movements on the new track!
Wiri depot expansion
Depot Expansion, we’re increasing the stabling capacity by 19 trains to help improve train operations across our network Work on the Southern connection level crossing is progressing, with power lines and signals being installed. Overhead line electrification (OLE) will be tested in early August. While the expansion won’t be fully completed next month, it will be available for stabling of batch 3 EMUs, retrofitting and project EMUs. The expansion will be fully commissioned by the end of the year.
Rail Safety Week 5 11 August
We’re celebrating Rail Safety Week with a couple of fun prize-offerings for AOR staff.
Firstly, we’re inviting you to nominate your colleagues as 'Safety Champions’ - people who keep our rails secure and sound. Here's the deal:
• Prizes : We've got five shiny $50 supermarket vouchers up for grabs!
• How to play: Spot someone at AOR who goes above and beyond for safety.
Maybe its's your colleague who double checks equipment or perhaps the unsung hero who tends to the injured. Every bit of safety counts.
A “Safety Champion” will be selected each day next week and win a $50 supermarket voucher.
Scan the QR code or click on the link to start nominating. Nominations close Sunday, 4 August: https://forms.office.com/r/9dVkMfgRgL
Rail Safety quiz – 20 AOR bottles to be won!
Watch out for the AOR Rail Safety quiz, starting next Monday, 5 August - there’ll be a new safety theme each day and a 5-question quiz at the end of the week. Get the quiz right and go in the draw to win an AOR-branded double-walled, vacuum-sealed bottle!
Keep your eyes peeled for the return of safety legend Steely Stan – a combined Rail Safety Week campaign by KiwiRail and TrackSAFE.
This year, Steely Stan will be joined by his city slicker mate, Steely Stu. The campaign goes live next week and urges people to take a good hard look for trains when approaching any level crossing. We’ll have some AOR people out at rail crossings to share important safety messages. Check out the fun Steely Stan video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkE5bUJln0s
SAFETY EXPRESS
Rail Safety updates
• Minutes from the latest Health and Safety Committee meeting are available on the intranet.
• The KiwiRail Shield app is live with no significant issues. Please regularly check for Shield app alerts.
• HSQESS continues to work with staff who have work or non-work-related injuries. Staff are supported with alternate duties or return to work plans.
• We continue to offer free and confidential counselling services to staff – see details below.
• Group debriefs are an important part of any fatality incidents. As well as group debriefs, staff are also offered EAP services.
• The Anti-Graffiti Working Group conducted an evaluation of The Strand and Onehunga to identify any options to improve anti-graffiti measures. CCTV lighting and security are all being addressed in these locations.
• AOR is working on a second trial for train roof cleaning process.
• HSQESS is reviewing and modifying the Permit to Work (PTW) application and inductions process.
Security Update - Police Engagement
• AOR is looking to input graffiti incidents directly into police database.
• ‘Operation Hamaru’ concluded on 30 June with a 34% reduction in incidents occurring in New Lynn in June.
• Ongoing engagement with Police and local councillors is occurring and AOR intends to increase the timings of the roving patrols in locations to ensure previous high-risk timings are covered.
• Police will continue to remain responsive to reports from the transport hubs.
Welcome to our new Occupational Health Specialist Mark Cortes who joined the HSQESS team on 22nd July. Mark is a registered nurse and has been in occ health and leadership roles as well as provided medical advice and case management in the insurance industry.
CRL Update
These photos show what is likely to be the final large group walk into the CRL by AOR, taken earlier this month. The tunnel will now become more difficult to access on foot in the next couple of months as the OLE (overhead line) is energised and access restrictions are put in place. This is the eighth walk led by Paul James and Joel O’Dea. Joel says the focus has been on allowing Test Train Drivers along with other key operational staff the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the tunnel environment before the first train enters the tunnel on in November, as planned.
Other staff will get the opportunity for tunnel familiarisation once training begins next year. This will likely be done by train rather than on foot although staff will still get the opportunity to step off the train and inspect key features within the tunnel.
Thanks to Melicia Carvalho, CRL Stations Control Testing Officer, for the following update from the CRL project team last week.
Exciting day of hands-on training for the CRL Delivery Team! Today, we delved into the intricate world of lifts and escalators operations with Link Alliance & Schindler at Te Waihorotiu Station.
From left to right: Mia Canlas, Twinkle Nip, Harry Bransden, Mark Jones, Michael Kuhn, Melicia Carvalho and Mohsin Patel
Recruitment Update
This month the Queen Street depot welcomed Drew Ward, Head of Commercial, and Jarryd Sisley, GM Engineering and Assets. Drew and Jarryd both started with us on 1 July and have been busy getting to know their teams and our operations. Mark Cortes started with us on 22 July as our new Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager - he will soon be a familiar face out on the network.
In AROC, we have had Jacob Frost start as a Control Communications Lead on 8 July – welcome to the team Jacob! Congratulations to Aishwarya Aravind who was successful in her application for the Control Communications Lead secondment, Aish joined us as a part-time Customer Service Ambassador in January.
Congratulations also to Michael Jacobs, who moved from a fixed term Crew Coordinator role to a permanent Service Coordinator role.
We have been busy recruiting for TM Tutors, Operations Supervisors and Minder Drivers and hope to be able to announce the successful candidates over the coming weeks.
• A new LE school started today. Congratulations to George Iosefa, TM, who was successful in his application for driver and will join this school.
• The next TM school starts on 12 August, and we have finished recruiting for this intake.
• We are continuing to process applications for both LEs and TMs, for schools starting in September and October, respectively.
Please e-mail Recruitment@aucklandonerail.co.nz if you have any recruitment queries, would like to apply for a role, or have a referral you would like to send through to Erica and Casey.
Shout Outs!
TM Lahaina Ah Kuoi:
“The time, effort and duty of care that Lahaina took throughout the trip was amazing and I cannot express enough how great a job she did throughout this challenging journey.”
Feedback from two customers about Train Manager, Dylan Hunniford:
“Shout out to Train Manager Dylan who was running the Eastern service that stopped at Sylvia Park 8:24AM. Absolutely amazing customer service, super helpful and friendly! He helped security get a random dog off the train at Otahuhu and ensured customers on the train were safe and happy.”
“Travelling on the train…an intoxicated man boarded the train at an enroute station after a short period he appeared to be causing problems with other passengers. The train guard responded quickly to diffuse the situation. The guard was sworn at and racially abused by the offender. The guard handled the situation in an extremely professional manner, he should be commended for his actions in my opinion.”
Shout
TM Neil D’Souza:
“I just wanted to share with you that I was on the Western line train service from Avondale to Newmarket at around (think it was the 6.57 service) and your member of staff who controls the door, made a lovely announcement letting us know about changes to the services over the next two days & then just wished everyone a good day but made a good story out of it! He really lifted everyone's spirits in the carriage I was in and most people (who hadn't earphones in) got off the train laughing and smiling following his announcement!
”This is my second time on a train service with this staff member and each time, he has made my day! I personally have been struggling recently and his message this morning just gave me a massive pep in my step!!
This month’s sign offs
Congratulations to this month’s sign offs!
Our newest certified drivers are Joshua Matthews, Jackson Simpson, and Roderick (RJ) Huru who joined us in May 2023, and Jeffrey Diaz who moved from TM to LE in March 2023.
A big thank you again to everyone behind the scenes who have helped get our people trained and certified.
Joshua Matthews with Dane
RJ Huru (left) with TCM Dane Fraser
Jeffrey Diaz with TSM Jim Walker
Jackson Simpson with Dane