Ōtaki railway station

With realignment of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki extension of the Kāpiti Expressway (part of the Northern Corridor project) north of Ōtaki the rail curve north of Ōtaki was realigned by Easter 2019 and the station yard moved south.[6] The 1.2 km (0.75 mi) of realigned route allows for a future double-track formation.[7]

The northern section of the platform was removed, the passing loop was extended north and is now 1050 m long, and the platform extends 60 m south with the new section raised to 680 mm above the railhead (200 mm higher than the previous section). The signalling was upgraded, all train detection is now by axle-counters, and new 50 kg/m rails and composite (plastic) sleepers used beneath the yard turnouts.[8] The deviation was bought into use on 22 April 2019.[9]

There is currently a campaign to extend the electrified commuter services to Ōtaki, following the extension of the electrification of the Kapiti Line from Paraparaumu to Waikanae. In 2012 the Greater Wellington Regional Council investigated extension of the electrification with Matangi trains north of Waikanae to Ōtaki (estimated cost $30 million for the Ōtaki project) and north of Upper Hutt to a new station at Timberlea.[10] However, extension of electrification north to Ōtaki was removed from official long-term rail improvement plans in 2014.[11] The estimated cost of electrification was put between $115m and $135m, which included new trains.[12] New trains were included as trains with toilets would be required, due to the travel time to Wellington to Ōtaki being over one hour.[12] This could be a "final nail in the coffin" for the under threat Capital Connection service from Wellington to Palmerston North, which also stops at Ōtaki.[12] During the 2017 general election, the Green Party proposed extending electrification to Ōtaki as an alternative to the Northern Corridor extension from Peka Peka.[13]

Ōtaki River bridge in 2012