Weekly Review No.46
This week, Huntly station nears completion, averall satisfaction among Te Huia passengers reaches 99% and bus ridership across the country is on the rise.
There is so much transport news about this week Substack reminded me twice the post was too long.
As always you can keep yourself updated by following our Twitter/X for real-time transport news updates.
City Rail Link crews have been installing the glass overhang which spans the entire front of the Maungawhau Station building, a week had been set aside to install the overhang with weather considerations factored in, but work was completed in just two days.
NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland has shared a reminder to X/Twitter that trains are running again in Whangārei and Northland.
KiwiRail confirmed to NZ Transit Buzz that the post is related to 'test and work trains on the line' The KiwiRail spokesperson also confirmed they will be doing 'another rail safety awareness campaign' when the line reopens.
Souter Holdings Fullers, the holding company for ferry operator Fullers360, steered its annual March 2024 revenues to $80.3 million, up 14% on the prior year’s $70.2m.
Eight S-class Capital Connection carriages were moved to Dunedin after being sold to Pounamu Tourism Group, and as part of the sales agreement, they were relocated to Dunedin.
The S-class carriages were retired on the 30th of July 2023 and replaced by the SR-class.
Auckland Transport has shared a few progress photos of the Eastern Busway construction, the images come as the site was visited by a number of Auckland representatives on Friday.
Kaitoke School’s new bus has been a work in progress for at least six years and is described by principal Vanessa Duncan as being “amazing”.
A multi-agency body has agreed to scrap free peak-hour weekday travel on Te Huia for SuperGold cardholders in a bid to boost revenue and make the service pay for more of itself, The sub-committee also agreed to subsidise off-peak children’s fares, a review of track user charges, looking at low-cost options for more north Waikato stations, and having the train stop at Pukekohe and Puhinui stations in Auckland.
Wellington Cable Car shared photos of the bogie replacement work from its maintenance week.
A West Auckland councillor is hoping to give a defunct tourist train in the Waitākere Ranges a new lease of life, the Rainforest Express - a miniature train operated by Watercare from 1998 until 2013 - used to do a three-hour return trip from Titirangi to the Upper Nihotupu Dam, Watercare closed the train after a geological report found nine sections posed a significant risk to public safety.
City Rail Link chief executive Sean Sweeney criticised the "expensive" impact of politicians opting to frequently alter infrastructure priorities in an interview with Q+A.
At Pukekohe final works on the station continue, crews have been working on commissioning the passenger information displays, on the new platform the protective barriers have mostly been removed on the rebuilt platforms a few barriers remain at the southern end.
Staircase lighting has been installed and work on the new elevator appears to be in its final stages and the overbridge remains boarded up with an access path through the middle.
The Bay of Islands Railway had to cancel all trains last weekend due to a damaged rail following an incident on the State Highway Friday night.
Officials have warned the Government there is a growing risk of a major safety incident on the rail network.
Labour is criticising National for repudiating the contract to build new Cook Strait ferries without a back-up plan.
At Huntly Station, crews have constructed new decking around the relocated station building to stitch the structure into the station complex, A new path has been constructed connecting the carpark to the platform side of the building and the platform has also been connected to the new station decking.
The area adjacent to the building and backing into the footbridge has been levelled and a large pile of gravel from levelling works has been piled up near the southern end of the site.
KiwiRail kicked off Rail Safety Week with a smash by releasing footage of a recent collision between a train and a motorist who failed to stop at a level crossing, the video was released to highlight the need for improved awareness around railway tracks.
Also as part of Rail Safety Week, KiwiRail and TrackSAFE are urging people to use their ‘Steely Stare’ and take a good hard look for trains when approaching any railway level crossing.
Shaun Baker from Multimodal Adventures took a deeper look at the latest additions to the frequent bus network in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The Keirunga Park Railway will remain closed until Hastings District Council has the required information on the repair of the recently damaged trestle bridge.
The Otago Regional Council is advising that some of its public buses will be following detours after 10 pm, from 11 August to mid-September, due to a series of road closures around the Frankton Bus Hub area.
Overall satisfaction among Te Huia passengers reached 99 per cent in this year’s customer satisfaction survey, which improves on 2023’s rate of 98 per cent, the survey also pointed to some areas for improvement, such as the onboard WiFi and cafe food.
Following an independent review, Waikato Regional Council has directed staff to start work on other actions identified as being desirable within the remainder of the start-up period, seeking input and approval as required:
Reviewing the safety case to enable more carriages
Working with KiwiRail to review track user charges
Working with Waikato District Council to explore low-cost options for additional stations
Engaging with the Auckland timetable committee about Te Huia stopping at stations to pick up Auckland passengers.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will be completing works between 6 August and 13 August 2024 on the southbound/citybound onramp at Westgate to repurpose the left-hand lane of the on-ramp to a bus lane, between 9 pm – 5 am each evening the onramp will be closed.
Wellington Cable Car's Dogs of the Cable Car Calendar is making a comeback for 2025, from 5, August, take a photo of your furry friend either on or near the Cable Car and enter via their website for your dog's chance to be featured in the calendar.
Interislander's Kaitaki is headed for dry dock in Singapore for repairs, maintenance and inspection and will return to service in October, Kaiarahi has been moved onto Kaitaki’s usual timetable.
The journey to Singapore will take 14 days with a stop in Gladstone on the Queensland Coast for refuelling, Kaitaki’s journey can be tracked here.
Spotted by X/Twitter user @FoxDST, A new East Auckland bus map has been uploaded to the Eastern Busway website, changes on the map include:
72X starts & terminates at Howick Village
New planned 705 and 706 Peak Connector routes
New planned 37 Frequent Bus route
Finance Minister Nicola Willis is refusing to release letters between ministers and KiwiRail about cancelling a $551 million shipbuilding contract, citing the ongoing state of exit negotiations.
Auckland Transport (AT) has confirmed to NZ Transit Buzz that the new passenger information display design will return, AT has rolled back to the previous design due to ‘predictions behind the due time weren't as accurate’ and ‘caused some customer confusion.’
AT said in a statement that they have ‘gone back to the old design while we work on addressing these concerns, or figure out a hybrid of new layout with old timings’, AT did not give an exact date when the design will return.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the cancellation cost for the iRex ship build is likely to come in at more than NZ $300 million, and could run up to a maximum cost approaching a half a billion dollars at current rates.
The glass on the Remuera Rd overbridge at Newmarket Station is being replaced, the lower glass panels which used to pivot have been replaced and the upper louvers are in the process of being replaced. A protective outer has been attached to the scaffolding.
The overhead line equipment on Platform 1 & 4 now extends past the lift entrances at Waitematā Station, the overhead has not yet been connected to the existing overhead system.
A ferry service between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui is no closer to reality after a council-funding decision was deferred, the regional council delayed its decision because two local councillors were absent, and staff wanted assurance from the city council that the new elected members still wanted to fund the service.
City Rail Link has shared a video construction update from Te Waihorotiu Station.
Thomas Nash has shared an update on Metlink's bus ridership numbers for July 2024, ridership is up 3.4% on 2019 pre-COVID numbers, the ridership increase comes despite a fare increase and job losses in Wellington.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis won’t confirm or deny the Government is sailing toward a public-private partnership for new Interislander ferries, as alleged by the Maritime Union.
Dunedin’s new Central City Safety Advisory Group has begun considering options to improve safety around the bus hub area.
Work on the refresh of Hamilton Transport Center is progressing well, a number of the platforms have already received their new shelters with work underway to install the remaining shelters.
Kerb works on the driveway loop are currently underway a number of glass panels around the building have been replaced and parts of the building have been repainted.
Deputy Chair of Henderson-Massey Local Board Brooke Loader has shared photos of the newly installed covered bike parking shelter at the Lincoln Road bus interchange, the shelter has space for 24 bikes and solar-powered lighting.
Nelson Tasman residents have taken 931,328 journeys on the new eBus service in its first year.
New Plymouth District Council and oOh! media are installing new digitised bus shelters near 331 & 537 Devon St East, the bus stops are still operating but accessibility may be limited until the works are completed.
A network map sign has been installed at New Lynn station, the sign features platform markings and a modified network map showing the western line split from the rest of the network and the backside shows the remaining stops to Swanson & Waitematā.
City Rail Link has shared new renders of the area around the Maungawhau Station building.
Plans for an electric bus depot in Wellington are progressing with Metlink leasing a site in Miramar from Wellington Airport, the site, between Kauri and Miro streets, is already home to the Airport Express bus fleet & will start accommodating additional buses from 2026.
Auckland Transport have begun a new advertising campaign for the rail network, the campaign highlights new stations in South Auckland and the nearly completed City Rail Link.
Bus patronage continues to rise in both Dunedin and Queenstown – up 21% and 51% respectively, with Dunedin trips at a six-year high.
Dunedin Railways have announced they are returning to Pukerangi in October with the Taieri Gorge Train, trips return to the tracks on October 5 and bookings can be made here.
Complaints about bus drivers’ "dangerous driving" dominates customer feedback, an Otago Regional Council report says.
The lighting and CCTV upgrade of the rail and pedestrian bridge in Huntly has been completed.
Tourism Minister Matt Doocey has indicated that an announcement on the future of the state-owned Interislander ferry service is imminent.
New wayfinding signage has been installed at a number of stations across Auckland, the signs appear to use a light blue indicator to show accessible entrances and exits and have ‘to Roadname’ directional arrows.
City Rail Link has commissioned a 22kV cable in the tunnel to take power from Karanga-a-Hape Station towards Maungawhau Station, once CRL is up and running, high voltage power will feed comms, ventilation, emergency services and lighting – including the sky element.
Stop A and B at Botany Town Centre are getting an upgrade and will receive, rebuilt footpaths upgraded bus shelters and improved curbs, the stops will temporarily be redirected to near the Rockshop and signage will show the way to it.
Here are three key elements, as seen from an outsider’s perspective, that I think make TfL so successful – and make it a fine case study for investing in a great public transport system here in Auckland.
City Rail Link has shared what safety elements the new station platforms will include:
A camera that automatically detects people in the rail corridor & provides alerts to the rail operator.
Non-slip surfaces and tactile tiles on platforms.
Help points for passengers and staff to raise alarms for critical incidents.
Differentiating contrasting colours on the platform edge to create visual cues.
Having a 1-degree slope away from tracks to reduce the chance of accidents & make sure liquids flow away from the edge.
Auckland Transport has announced plans to convert the 650 & 670 to frequent routes 65 & 67 in November 2024, there are also plans to convert the 120 to the 12 and this is planned for April 2025.
Napier Port is offering a behind-the-gates tour of the port, the tours will be operated by the Hawke’s Bay Express' a modern road train that looks like an old-fashioned steam engine.
I saw, from my bike, the new bike park at Lincoln Rd and admire anyone courageous enough to leave a bike there. Does AT provide insurance?