NZ Geomechanics News Issue 107 June 2024 p. 82-91
Cycline Gabrielle severly damaged a large portion of the Palmerston North to Gisborne line (PNGL). The damage included large embankment washout failures, blocked/damaged culverts, underslips/overslips, scour damage to tracks, loss/reduction of drainage, silt inundation and structural damage to bridges/tunnels. Show more…Tonkin & Taylor Ltd were engaged by KiwiRail to provide specific geotechnical field support during the initial ‘Make Safe’ works on the Napier to Wairoa section of the PNGL.
The premise of the ‘Make Safe’ works is to undertake works that reduce the likelihood of further damage and deterioration of the line under normal annual rainfall conditions and across the next two winters. This was considered to be a suitable timeframe to allow the ‘Make Safe’ requirements to still be satisfied based on the level of engineering being undertaken across the line. Importantly, the focus was not necessarily to reinstate the track for train movements but rather to allow , where possible, rail enabled plant to access sections of the line safely. Show less…
