The 2019 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence was awarded to KiwiRail for Rising to Meet the Challenge - Main North Line Earthquake Recovery Project in New Zealand.
The project between KiwiRail and its partners NZTA and NCTIR was a response to the November 2016 earthquake which struck the north east of New Zealand’s South Island.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake which affected an area of 112 miles caused the strongest ground movement ever recorded in New Zealand and affected KiwiRail’s Main North Line and New Zealand State Highway 1.
Within 10 months of the earthquake, the line was reopened to a restricted freight service. And by October 2018 the line was available on a 24/7 basis for freight services, with passenger services resuming in December 2018.
Please join AREMA in congratulating KiwiRail on their remarkable achievement.