Weekly Review No.55
This week, MOTAT asks people to 'adopt a tram' to fund repairs, KiwiRail removes a controversial sign and real-time screens arrive at the Hamilton Transport Centre.
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Weekly Review, we announced the winner of our 1,000-follower giveaway, congratulations to Ericawa who has won a HOP card loaded with $100 credit, we will be in touch shortly to arrange your prize.
A quick note, in the first few weeks of November we will briefly scale back in posting due to a number of personal events, we will still try to share the latest and most important news as it happens but you may notice a dip in our standard coverage levels, thank you for understanding.
Richard Hills has shared that when introduced the payWave trip fares will be the same as the standard AT Hop fare, Auckland Transport also confirmed the introduction of payWave fares will begin before Christmas.
Auckland Transport board member Councillor Maurice Williamson believes his concerns over the City Rail Link's budget have come true.
A heritage-listed railway station at Mataura is slowly rotting as KiwiRail tries to give it away or lease it, but there have been no takers since the local council declined to buy it for $1.
Consultation will occur early next year on potential changes to the public transport system in Hawke's Bay.
Greater Wellington Regional Council wants to refloat plans for all Cook Strait ferries to work out of the same port.
Following extreme weather in Dunedin over the weekend, Dunedin Railways announced they had cancelled all scheduled trains, including the launch of the Taieri Gorge train to Pukerangi.
It inspired one of New Zealand’s most iconic artworks, but a “horrible” corporate addition to the famous Cass railway station has been condemned by visitors to the Canterbury landmark.
KiwiRail & Kaikōura District Council announced they would close the Factory Road level crossing for repairs from Sunday 13th October until Monday 14th October.
Ngā Mihi Rail has shared photos from their recent maintenance work at the Mount Maunganui rail yard.
Street maintenance, including footpaths, along with cycleways, safety and bus services are all losers in a new plan for transport funding that will go before Auckland Council this month.
Residents of Lyttelton fear a return to the cruise ship chaos of two years ago after learning the regional council will not subsidise extra buses or staff this season - a week out from the arrival of the first ship.
Outdoor advertising firms are on tenterhooks with Auckland Transport in the final throes of landing upon successful tenderers for some of the biggest advertising contracts in New Zealand history.
The Harewood Road level crossing has reopened following works to upgrade the railway line, install a signalised pedestrian crossing & automatic railway gates, the pedestrian crossing and gates will not be commissioned until early to mid-2025.
From Saturday 26 October, access to Homai Station will be from the pedestrian level crossings only. Existing stairs will close so a new access ramp can be built in the same location.
KiwiRail has shared photos of the rail line between Oamaru and Clinton which had been closed due to multiple slips.
City Rail Link has shared a video detailing the necessary tasks to prepare trains for the inaugural journey through the tunnel.
Real-time screens have been installed at the Hamilton Transport Centre, the real-time displays are still being configured and BUSIT is advising passengers to check the timetables and Transit app until the real-time screens are ready.
KiwiRail will move its controversial sign at Canterbury’s Cass station to “a more suitable location”, following criticism of its placing at the culturally important scene of Rita Angus’ famous oil painting.
@thirdculturebot on X/Twitter shared a progress image of the streetscape works near the Victoria Street entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station, the two images were captured almost a year apart on October 7 2023 & October 6 2024.
Dunedin Railways announced they would run the Taieri Gorge train to Pukerangi on Thursday after the original launch trip had been delayed due to recent bad weather.
KiwiRail has released an updated North Island Master Train Plan which now includes the Auckland-Whangarei and Whangarei-Kauri services following the reopening of the North Auckland Line.
City Rail Link has commissioned the overhead line equipment (OHLE) switch room inside the eastern end of Waitematā Station (Britomart), there's still work to do to commission the remaining switch rooms, however, the OHLE inside the tunnels has been installed.
A short section of OHLE at Waitematā Station (Britomart) will be installed right before CRL connects the tunnels' OHLE to that of Auckland's network.
KiwiRail has shared photos of the repair work taking place on the Main South Line, the track between Clinton and Balclutha has reopened, and in Dunedin, tracks have resumed carrying freight between Mosgiel and Port Chalmers.
Bluebridge's Connemara ferry hit and damaged fendering on Waitohi Wharf in Picton while berthing on Tuesday.
City Rail Link has started to remove the scaffolding around the Beresford Square escalators, and the glass lift shafts have also been installed.
Stuff understands KiwiRail will soon release plans that could see jobs go from depots in Hamilton, Tauranga, and Kawerau, this follows confirmed restructure plans in Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North and Interislander staff.
The Government has been warned Wellington’s port isn’t set up as a ‘24/7 marine emergency first responder’ & the country urgently needs to find a more sustainable way to rescue ships when they break down.
The scale of delays on our rail network were highlighted by the Herald last week and while it’s bad, it also highlights the huge opportunity for getting our rail network back up to speed.
Auckland Transport has announced the Western Line will be on a temporary from the 14th to the 25th of October to ‘assist with testing and commissioning for Maungawhau Station’, NZ Transit Buzz understand some trips may be 4 minutes longer than usual.
The historic and complex station at Wellington is being resignalled to permit more frequent services and enhance safety. Infrastructure manager KiwiRail hopes it will pave the way for future upgrades to ETCS.
From the beginning of school term 4 on Monday, 14 October, there will be a permanent 1C service departing the Dunedin Bus Hub to Warrington, this will mean that the morning 1C service now has a return trip in the afternoons.
Auckland Transport has released a map of the upcoming crosstown bus changes, which go live on 17th November.
KiwiRail has shared images of the now-removed Cass station sign, KiwiRail says the cones are a temporary measure to cover the concrete post housings which will be removed by the end of this week as they 'properly restore the area'.
MOTAT is offering Kiwis the chance to 'adopt a tram' and help keep them running, the Western Springs Tramway urgently needs repairs, with $1 million required to upgrade the tram service's 100-year-old tracks.
The Transport Minister has agreed to an urgent meeting with the head of Wellington's Port to discuss emergency towing options for Cook Strait following a Bluebridge ferry losing power.
Works on the bus stop upgrades at Botany Town Centre are progressing well, the road pavers have been replaced with asphalt.
Capital costs related to AT's now-fast tracked rail project to remove level crossings are likely headed to at least half a billion dollars, but could also be in 'never never' land.
MRCagney has shared images of the upgraded stops and wayfinding at the Balmoral / Mt Eden Road bus stops, the stops have been upgraded ahead of changes to the crosstown bus network.
Auckland Transport has shared the October Eastern Busway project update, featured are the Super T beams that have been installed on Rā Hihi (flyover) above Reeves Road.
Federated Farmers has come up with a range of solutions to prevent rural families from losing their much-needed school bus services.
Shaun Baker has shared images of the streetscape works around the Wellesley Street entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station.
KiwiRail has released a video explaining wheel squeal, what causes it and how they fix it.