Washout 'could' delay Napier to Wairoa railway reopening, Kiwirail boss says

Todd Moyle says geotechnical engineers are now assessing the track to work out the best way to fix it.

Kiwirail could have to delay the re-opening of the Napier to Wairoa railway line after recent severe weather has washed out part of the track.

An section of the track is suspended in mid-air after heavy rain earlier this month washed the earth out from beneath it.

"The washout happened just north of Raupunga during the severe weather which hit the region earlier this month. It extends over a distance of around 45 metres," a spokesperson from Kiwirail said.

"Our teams are continuing to assess the damage and any impact it may have on the planned reopening date for the line."

Kiwirail initially stated the mothballed logging line would be back in action by December. 

Acting Kiwirail Chief Executive Todd Moyle told 1 NEWS geotechnical engineers have been on site assessing the track and working out the best option to fix it.

About 50 metres of track was undermined by heavy rain, potentially delaying the line's reopening.

He says the December reopening date "could" be delayed by the new washout but didn’t expect and push back to be significant.

"There’s a couple of options that we’ve got and we need to get all the information in so we can be well informed to make the right decision on how we fix it.”

Mr Moyle told 1 NEWS the slip is "significant" but not something they haven’t dealt with before.

"That may mean we have to go and divert the track a bit but we will find a way to get that line open."

The repairs will also look at building up the resilience of the hillside.

Mr Moyle says Kiwirail has confidence in the whole railway network from Napier to Wairoa but the amount of recent rainfall made for special circumstances.

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