20 September 2012 – Aurecon’s work on KiwiRail’s North-South Junction Project in New Zealand has won this year’s 2012 Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) Biennial Railway Project Award.

The NZD21.5 million project – the first stage in a programme to improve New Zealand’s rail system – was announced the winner at the RTSA’s CORE 2012 conference, held recently in Brisbane, Australia.

As part of the winning team, Aurecon provided civil, survey, geotechnical and project management services for the project.  A high degree of originality in both design and construction was required to meet the challenges of a very tight timeframe and a severely constrained site. The scope of works included increasing the North-South Junction’s line speed from 50 kilometres per hour to 70 and reducing the risk of rockfall from slopes high above the tracks.

The project was completed with minimal disruption to freight and rail services during construction and has increased the efficiency of trains using the line, reducing journey times and improving reliability.  Improved slope stability measures minimise future slope erosion.

Steve Howard, Client Relationship Executive, Rail, Aurecon, said the award is recognition of the excellent work undertaken by the Aurecon team on what was a very challenging railway project.