Free trains played their part in helping prevent Newmarket gridlock

Figures just out from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority show that over 30,000 extra train trips were made on Sunday during the replacement of the Newmarket viaduct.

The free trains were designed to help ease the chronic traffic congestion transport authorities feared during the Newmarket Viaduct closure.

Auckland Regional Council Chairman Mike Lee who proposed the free train idea congratulated, ARTA, Veolia Transport, rail staff and the public.

“We estimate that Aucklanders choosing to take the train alone reduced the number of cars on the road by some 25,000 - and that’s before we consider all the responsible citizens who chose to leave their cars at home during that time. It says a lot about the progress we have made in recent years that ARTA was able to readily and successfully deploy this mass transit option as one means of helping avoid what could have been a transport crisis.

“A big thank you goes out to everyone that contributed to the swift replacement of the viaduct by NZTA and its contractors. I hope anyone taking the train for the first time got the opportunity to experience the way of the future! “

ENDS

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