The Public Transport Users Association would like the Minister of Transport, Phil Twyford, to urgently get on board with Trains To Huapai.

Residents of West Auckland have been calling out for commuter train shuttles to run from Swanson station through the currently unused Waitakere station to Huapai for a number of years. It is the number one most wanted public transport issue commented on in numerous Auckland Transport surveys and consultations. Yet prospects of Trains to Huapai to meet the needs of accelerating housing development now, have been stymied by the government's unproven long term focus on light rail trams to Kumeu.

Christine Rose, Chair of the PTUA said “We are pleased the Government through NZTA is funding twice daily commuter trains from Hamilton to Papakura for around $60 million. However, for less than $4 million the people of Nor-West Auckland could have hourly rail shuttles operating seven days a week from Huapai and Waitakere to Swanson station.”

“Trains To Huapai has full support from West Auckland and Nor West Auckland Local Boards, and we trust they will raise this significant local transport issue with Minister Twyford when discussing public transport issues” Rose added.

The railway stations at Huapai and Waitakere are already built and a recent multimillion dollar upgrade to park and ride facilities at Waitakere Station are sitting idle but immediately available. Auckland Transport has spare diesel railcars for the shuttle services. “Due to regulation changes following the Pike River coal mine incident the railcars need a $50,000 fire suppression system fitted for use through the Waitakere tunnel, but apart from that Trains To Huapai could be rolling quickly” said Jon Reeves, National Coordinator of the PTUA. “We are talking about seriously small investment required to provide one of the transport solutions the high growth area of Kumeu-Huapai need now, not in 10 to 20 years time with the Government's long term vision for light rail trams to Kumeu.”

With the planned upgrading of the North Auckland railway to Marsden Point by the Coalition Government, it is a perfect time to leverage this investment and enable Nor West Auckland to have the commuter train service they desperately deserve.

The PTUA hopes the Minister of Transport will address getting Trains to Huapai when he talks about public transport for West Auckland at his Labour party rally tomorrow afternoon in Henderson. “We understand he has organised the NZ Transport Agency and other interest groups to speak about public transport for West Auckland. It is important that we sort issues out in 2019 using existing and available assets and infrastructure and not just talk about light rail tram lines that will not reach Kumeu or Westgate for 10 to 20 years” Christine Rose said.

© Scoop Media