Latest plans to upgrade trains welcomed

Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis is welcoming the latest milestone in the upgrade of train services for the Auckland region.

With the opening of Britomart just months away, the Auckland Regional Council has announced its new timetable which includes more trains and services running later at night.

Four extra trains were added recently and there will be four more by the time Britomart, at the bottom of Queen Street, opens in June. Trains will run till later in the evening from downtown Auckland, until 8pm compared to 6.30pm at present. Other changes include earlier trains on the Eastern Line and more services to Pukekohe.

By the end of the year there will be trains every 10 minutes at peak hour between the CBD and Papakura, more trains to and from New Lynn, evening services till 11pm, and Sunday services.

Sir Barry says. “It’s good to see solid progress. There’s been a huge increase in the numbers of people using public transport over the past two years and, once the improved train service is in place, it’s bound to attract many more out of their cars and into trains. It’ll be cheaper and faster to travel by public transport, especially at peak hours.

“The rail network was run down in recent years but 40 stations are being upgraded and will soon be clean and well maintained. The carriages will be modern and comfortable. There'll be secure park-and-ride facilities at stations. Services will run every 7-8 minutes at peak times, compared to once every 15 minutes currently, and at other times every 15 minutes. The weekend services will be frequent and there'll also be late night trains.”

The rail improvements will also be seen in Manukau City.

Construction of the new rail line from Manukau City Centre to join up with Main Trunk Line at Wiri is likely to start in 2003/4 and is due for completion in 2007/8. A new station will be built at Manukau City Centre opposite the Manukau courthouse building.

The Wiri - Manukau rail link is the first stage of the rail upgrade and the second stage will see the construction of a link between the city centre through Botany and Pakuranga to Panmure.

The full train timetable is available at http://www.rideline.co.nz