ARC announces Saturday services for the Eastern Line

Starting on Saturday 3 April, Tranz Metro Auckland will run services between Papakura and Britomart along the Eastern Rail Line .

After decades without services, people will once again be able to catch the train at Panmure, Glen Innes, Meadowbank and Orakei stations on a Saturday. In addition passengers travelling between Papakura and Westfield on the Southern Line will also have more choice of travel times, with trains departing every 30 minutes rather than once an hour.

"Saturday services on the Eastern line have been eagerly awaited by people living in the area," says ARC Passenger Transport Committee Chair Councillor Catherine Harland.

"At the time Britomart opened, services including those on Saturdays, were extended to operate later in the evenings. This change plus the significant improvements in comfort resulting from the train upgrades carried out, has attracted many more people to hop aboard on Saturdays," says Cr Harland

The number of people stepping aboard trains on Saturdays has more than doubled over the eight months from 1 July 2003, compared to the same time the previous year (up 120% from 75,000 to 167,000).

"With such a dramatic increase in use on existing services, we are expecting people in the Eastern Suburbs to relish having Saturday services that make going to downtown or out to Papakura so much easier," says Cr Harland.

The additional services are now possible as a result of the train upgrades undertaken so far and the availability of more drivers that have completed training. "This is yet another welcome step in the on-going project to deliver improved rail services to the region," says Cr Harland.

New timetable and service information is available by contacting ARC's public transport information centre, Rideline (09) 366 6400 or www.Rideline.co.nz

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