Monday 18 April 2016
Media Release – for immediate release
Diesel Train Service Now, Pragmatic Solution To Area’s Growth, Public Say
Auckland Transport (AT) continues its consultation on transport options to serve the region’s massive future growth, and
locals favour passenger rail transport, but AT’s plans show unsustainable bias toward road based solutions for
Huapai-Kumeu, say the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).
“The high growth greenfields development happening now in Huapai-Kumeu on the North West outskirts of Auckland, is
crippling State Highway 16” says local resident and PTUA chair, Christine Rose. “SH16 is a strategic, freight and
service industry transport alternative to SH1, but is at a standstill now because of residential sprawl unmatched with
decent public transport infrastructure. Auckland Transport are consulting on plans for transport improvements sometime,
including new roads and a busway from Westgate into the city, none of which have real timeframes or funding, nor deliver
the transport solutions people say they want”.
In the last consultation round, passenger rail solutions were preferred by the public more than any other option.
Auckland Transport, to their credit have moved slightly in suggesting an investigation into benefits and costs of
electric rail to the area. ”But in effect, we’re no further ahead, with the plans showing bias toward a road-based
solutions which have no timeframe, no budget, fail to address SH16 congestion and won’t serve the current growth of
Kumeu” Rose added.
“Meanwhile, we’ve got an existing railway line, railway station, and diesel rolling stock that can be used tomorrow on
an uncongested, dedicated route. With smart timetabling to meet the rest of the regional rail network, this service
could start tomorrow, with marginal additional cost” says Mrs Rose. “Surely that’s a better deal for ratepayers and
residents than living with crippling congestion for decades until ‘if and when’ budgets and plans are developed?”.
Both Mrs Rose as previous chair of the Auckland Regional Council’s Transport Committee and PTUA co-ordinator Jon Reeves,
have been involved with successful rail campaigns such as that which brought rail back to Onehunga. Mr Reeves says “that
campaign showed that there will always be opponents of rail development. But in using existing railway lines, diesel
rolling stock, and platforms, we save ratepayers money and increase capacity on roading networks for important freight
and service vehicles, and we can provide a decent, truly congestion free public transport service now, not in 20 years
when it will be too late”.
PTUA propose a ‘Western Connector’ rail service initially offering hourly rail services between Huapai and Swanson from
6am to 8pm daily. This shuttle will connect with the wider Auckland rail
network in the exact same fashion as the successful Pukekohe – Papakura rail shuttle service. "The beauty of our
solution is it can start immediately as everything is in place and ready to go. Only the will of Auckland Transport is
blocking Huapai, Kumeu and Waitakere residents and ratepayers having a rail service."