New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

New wagon fleet an absolute ballast

16 October 2007

The addition of a new fleet of 40 ballast wagons for rail infrastructure agency ONTRACK was announced a category finalist in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence (NZEE) Awards today.

The third New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for New Zealand engineering professionals. The awards are presented in two major areas: Individual Awards, that recognise leadership, entrepreneurship, and our young engineers; and Category Awards, that recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme Award for the best of the Category winners.

When ONTRACK was returned to public ownership in 2004, it inherited some 180 ballast wagons some dating back to the 1950s and considered obsolete. Ballast is the crushed rock and stone that provides a bed for railway tracks and sleepers. It is a vital component for holding railway tracks in place and drainage. Specialist ballast wagons transport and spread the crushed stone for construction and maintenance.

To assist in the revitalisation of New Zealand’s rail network, ONTRACK tendered internationally for a new fleet of 40 ballast wagons. Toll NZ, led by their Professional Services Group and supported by Toll Hillside of Dunedin, designed and built a YJ classed wagon which ONTRACK said “has increased ONTRACK’s capability to undertake maintenance operations and has in turn enhanced the upgrade of the national rail network”.

The new YJ wagons provides the ability for a smaller fleet to carry up to four times the volume of its predecessor and increased staff productivity – a job that previously required a track gang now can be done with two staff.

The wagons also enable enhanced work practices and health and safety for users, a ballast wagon with a tare weight and load capacity second to none; and future-readiness for axle load increases, balanced with current actual capabilities.

David Elms, Convenor of the Category Awards judging panel said that the calibre of finalist projects highlighted the contribution that professional engineers make to New Zealand on a social, economic and environmental scale.

“These projects made the finalist cut because they each are outstanding examples of engineering innovation”, says Mr Elms. “This year’s finalists impressed the judges by demonstrating how their projects contributed to the national economy and the reputation of New Zealand engineering and impacted on quality of life in their communities”.

Winners of both individual and category awards will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at TE PAPA, Wellington on Wednesday, 21 November 2007.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are hosted by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing organisations. The partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).

Media enquiries contact:

Verona-Meiana Putaranui, NZEE Awards Media Co-ordinator

Email: media@ipenz.org.nz

Phone: +64 4 473 2028 or Cell: +64 21 479885