Weekly Review No.47
This week, a new render of Westgate Bus Station gets released, work at Pukekohe Station wraps, and a sale process is believed to be underway for Kinetic.
Welcome to the Weekly Review for another week, I hope everyone has had a good week and is looking forward to the weekend.
As always you can keep yourself updated by following our Twitter/X for real-time transport news updates.
Aratere hit another bump, this time high winds were at fault causing the ferry to make contact with the linkspan (the dock ramp that allows vehicles to access the vessel), KiwiRail said there had been some damage to the linkspan and the hull of the vessel well above the waterline.
There were 106 passengers and 40 crew on board and no one was injured, some sailings were cancelled with affected passengers moved to other sailings.
Residents of the Mount Eden suburb have been left in the dark about changes to drop their stop from a central Auckland bus route, two groups have told Auckland Council on Thursday.
Passenger numbers rose last month for the Waipā regional bus services from Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi into Hamilton despite fares going up by 20 per cent.
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into an incident on the East Coast Main Trunk Line on the 2nd of August at about 11:40 am, the incident involved a hi-rail vehicle (HRV) and a freight train,
The hi-rail vehicle and its crew were working near the Kereone crossing loop when a freight train passed 2 red stop signals and entered the section of track occupied by the HRV, fortunately, the HRV entered a crossing loop minutes prior, avoiding a collision & injuries.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown says the Government has made clear to KiwiRail its “satisfaction” level around the operation of its Cook Strait ferries is “low”, a day after the Aratere Interislander crashed into the wharf in Wellington while berthing.
Spotted by X/Twitter user @nuclearkiwik, the busiest and quietest train stations in Auckland from January to July 2024 have been revealed.
MOST BUSY:
Waitematā (Britomart)
Newmarket
Papakura
LEAST BUSY:
Te Papapa
Te Mahia
Onehunga
Hastings District Council have approved the repair of the trestle bridge at Keirunga Park Railway, the repair approval means trains can run again.
The next public running day will be on Sunday, 18 August 2024, from 11 am to 4 pm, weather permitting.
A US company that puts AI-enabled cameras on the front of buses to try to stop cars from blocking bus stops has entered the New Zealand market.
A demonstrator ADL Enviro100EV is due to arrive in New Zealand shortly, operators for the demonstrator bus have not yet been named.
Pounamu Tourism Group and Dunedin City Holdings Ltd have begun talks about Dunedin Railways Ltd, but these discussions are still in their early stages and a finalised proposal is not expected for some time.
Interislander’s Aratere ferry needs new plating inserted after it hit a linkspan coming into a berth in Wellington, damaging its hull.
The Socialist Equality Group calls on Wellington rail workers to build a rank-and-file committee to fight for demands that address their urgent needs including an immediate pay increase.
Many of New Zealand's bus services could soon be operated by a new owner with a sale process believed to be underway for Kinetic, the price tag for Kinetic is believed to be about A$4b.
KiwiRail has shared a photo of the slip repair works along the Waterview Shared Path, this area was damaged during weather events in early 2023.
Pas Art has shared photos of the new mural they have painted on the toilets at Manukau Live Steamers depot.
The O Mahurangi Penlink highway is currently under construction, but the decision to tolls the road has sparked frustration, adding to concerns is a proposal to end the peninsula’s ferry service once the road is completed.
Restoration is one step closer for an historic railway station in a remote corner of Southland.
Pukerangi will again be a destination for scenic train trips from Dunedin, Dunedin Railways is set to run trips twice a week through the summer to April.
From Wednesday passengers using the Dunedin city to Palmerston bus service can use a new bus stop in Waitati, in addition to the stop on State Highway 1 near the On the Spot store as part of a trial.
Work on the Middlemore station rebuild is progressing well, crews are currently working on building the new staircase connection to Orakau Road and completing the new station shelter, work is also underway to deconstruct the temporary platform extension and the temporary station emergency exit.
Installation of the 19th century C class carriage C100 in its permanent home in the Lumsden railway precinct moves the trust a step closer to completing a unique heritage train static display in the northern Southland town.
Mcewan Haulage LTD has shared photos from the bridge #202 replacement on the Main South Line at Karitane, KiwiRail is replacing the wooden rail bridge with concrete reinforced tubular piles, precast headstocks and a steel SPG span deck.
City Rail Link has shared progress update photos from inside the Beresford Square entrance to Karanga-a-Hape Station.
KiwiRail has disestablished 61.5 full-time equivalent jobs affecting staff who work in finance, human resources, and health and safety and established 21 new roles.
KiwiRail has wrapped construction on the Papakura to Pukekohe electrification project and shared some time-lapse videos of the project, the line remains closed for passenger trains until January 2025 as the project moves to the testing and commissioning phase.
City Rail Link has shared a video showing the process of installing the glass canopy at Te Waihorotiu Station.
The Capital Connection Café Car will be removed from service for annual maintenance from 14th of August, the Cafè Car will return to service on the 21st of August, wheelchair access will be supplied by a manual ramp and crew assistance, and bike storage will also be limited.
In our mid-week feature article, we took a look at some budget-friendly solutions to expand Te Huia’s reach.
Behind the scramble to respond to Interislander’s Aratere ferry grounding in Picton.
They make sure everyone gets to school or arrive home safe and sound. They patrol the platform, ask people to stand behind the yellow line, help people to top-up their Snapper cards and to interpret train timetables.
Parking spaces are at a premium in Collingwood Street, where city council staff propose converting bus stops on either side of road - adding another 55 metres of paid parking.
A graphic created by X/Twitter user @nuclearkiwik showed the average daily boardings for each train station in Auckland.
Auckland’s Frequent Transit Network hits 40 routes… now we need to tell people about it!
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust has shared photos from inside the Plimmerton depot and what works have been taking place.
Spotted by X/Twitter user @sbaker1428, bike parking is being installed at Te Waihorotiu Station's Victoria St entrance.
Spotted by X/Twitter user @KiwiEV, One of five new Geely buses for Metro Canterbury has started its journey from Auckland to Christchurch, this bus will soon join the 17 Geely buses already in service which Christchurch welcomed in July.
A new trial for Links Ave gives people more access to the street, access to Links Ave has been limited after a cul-de-sac, formed by two bus lanes between Solway Place and Concord Ave, was installed in March 2022.
‘Freebie Fridays’ have been suggested as a means of enticing under 12 children into using the eBus service again after a drop in usage following the introduction of fares.
Signatures are just days away on a deal between KiwiRail and two trusts that will result in the former "manager’s house" in Hillside Rd being retained and repurposed.
By Shaun Baker at Multimodal Adventures: A look at the improvements and gains made in public transport in cities and regions around Aotearoa.
Councillor Andy Baker said he’s had productive discussions with KiwiRail about adding more park & ride facilities at Pukekohe station, he would also like to see work begin on enhanced bus services to connect with the trains.
Cook Strait ferry Aratere’s list of woes has grown, with freight delays meaning a longer wait to get a replacement gearbox part from Europe.
Hawera-based operator Weir Bros is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, with its heritage of service to the communities of New Zealand’s South Taranaki stretching back further than its half-century.
Auckland Transport has released an updated render of the Westgate Bus Station, ahead of AT and NZ Transport Agency holding information information sessions at venues in the northwest.