Weekly Review No.99
This week: Alstom to deliver new Lower-North Island trains, Christchurch to have credit & debit card payments from mid-November and the Connemara gets a fresh lick of paint.
Kia Ora and welcome to the Weekly Review for another week. Next week marks the 100th edition of the Weekly Review, but right now, let's dive into the week that was in transport news.
Next week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) and GoBus is celebrating by translating its ‘Not in Service’ display into te reo, GoBus have also added a ‘Celebrate Māori Language’ display into their loops.
KiwiRail recently replaced six DC-powered cranes with 3 AC-powered cranes at the Hutt Workshops. There are now 2 100T cranes and one 10T crane.
A major shake-up of Auckland Transport has been confirmed, with its core focus to be delivering public transport services for the city.
Metlink’s on-board rail staff and Warranted Transport Operators, known to passengers as the ‘team in green’, moved from spot checks to checking all tickets across rail this week as part of efforts to reduce lost fare revenue.
The AT Hop top-up machine at the Lower Albert Street bus interchange has been rewrapped into the updated Auckland Transport branding.
Taranaki Regional Council candidate Louise James said Te Huia train service between Auckland and Hamilton was a good funding model for the inter-regional passenger trail between Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui.
An Auckland boat builder has received its first European customer for an 11-person electric hydrofoiling boat. Vessev chief executive Eric Laakmann said an eco tourism resort in Northern Ireland will be the launch customer next year.
Alstom has been selected to deliver 18 five-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains. The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite.The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.
A scenic train trip from Christchurch to Greymouth costs nearly $2000 return for a family of four – a price on par with flights to Australia. Residents on both sides of the Southern Alps told the Herald they feel unable to see what their own country has to offer, because of the cost.
Work is underway to introduce five new substations to the Wellington network to create the capacity for new trains, as well as upgrading the existing substations to make them more resilient.
Auckland Transport has shared photos of the EVM200 electric ferry on the Waitematā Harbour during its sea trials last week.
A new toilet for eBus drivers on routes two and six, which travel via Bateup Road in Richmond, has opened on budget and ahead of schedule. The project is 75 percent funded by NZTA.
The Maioro Street dynamic bus lanes began operation on 8 September. The eastbound bus lane will operate on Maioro Street from 6 to 10 am on weekdays.
Smith Crane & Construction Ltd have shared a timelapse video of the bridge 245 MSL Span replacement at Green Island, Dunedin. The original 2-span bridge & hardwood trestle were removed & the replacement span was lifted into place between 6 am Saturday to midday Sunday.
Bayes Coachlines have welcomed two Signature series coaches ahead of the coming touring season.
The buses feature:
32 seats
Twin-door access
Onboard toilet
Fridge
Entertainment system with Wi-Fi
Built-in phone chargers
Cup holders
A R A Heritage Buses has relocated its fleet to a larger yard located in Helensville. North Harbour Towing and Tutill Transport assisted with the relocation of Birkenhead Transport #21 and the storage container.
Ngā Mahi Rail has recently collected rubbish that had gathered along the rail corridor. Ngā Mahi Rail also undertook some vegetation removal as part of this clean-up.
Is Dunedin’s number 18 bus the most scenic route in the country? Tara Ward from The Spinoff had a very lovely time on Dunedin public transport.
Isaac Construction has completed work on a rebuild of the rail crossing on State Highway 7, just outside Reefton. To keep traffic flowing, a temporary bypass through a neighbouring farm was constructed.
Spotted by Puketutu on the Scoot Foundation Discord - Signage for Te Wai Horotiu Station shows what hours the station will be open to the public.
Sunday to Thursday and Public Holidays, the station will be open 5:00 am to 1:00 am.
Friday and Saturdays, it will be open from 5:00 am to 3:00 am.
From September 20, Masterton’s Judds Rd would be closed for up to 12 weeks while safety upgrade work at the level crossing was completed. The Judds Rd crossing would then reopen as one-way only from Ngaumutawa Rd.
Interislander has completed a full-scale mass rescue training drill on board Kaitaki while it was berthed in Wellington on Sunday. The drill involved 90 community volunteers to act as passengers in a simulated emergency.
By mid-November bus and ferry passengers will be able to pay for fares using credit or debit cards. NZTA is now targeting the end of 2027 for the complete Motu Move rollout.
Motu Move devices will be installed on all Metro buses and ferries from 10 September, but won’t be active until later in the year.
Environment Canterbury director of public transport Giles Southwell said a phased rollout of the solution will bring more accessible public transport to the Greater Christchurch network faster than waiting for all the parts to be in place.
A redacted version of the National Ticketing Solution programme review will be made available online after consultation with commercial partners.
Greater Wellington is exploring ways to allow passengers to pay with credit and debit cards with NZTA and its current provider following delays to the rollout of the National Ticketing Solution.
Te Huia's recent passenger satisfaction survey results came in with passenger satisfaction sitting at 98%.
Other survey facts:
35% of respondents travel at least once per week
61% travel at least once per month
59% reside in Hamilton
21% reside in Auckland
The temporary Tranzurban Westgate Depot is available to rent from November 1. Hart Haulage, which owns the yard, says the yard is suitable for truck or truck and trailer parking and there is a covered and concrete area for mechanics available on site.
Anna Atkinson from the Upper Harbour Local Board has shared an update from Auckland Transport about issues people have had with the 'bikes on buses' trial.
Metro’s Greater Christchurch network has seen 15.1 million passenger trips taken in the 2024-2025 Financial Year, a 4.5 per cent increase on the previous financial year.
Bluebridge has shared a photo of Connemara in dry dock after a fresh coat of paint. Connemara will shortly begin the return journey to Wellington to re-enter service.
Britomart has shared photos of the now completed refurbishment of the three office floors of the Chief Post Office above the Waitematā Station concourse.
The Wellington Tramway Museum returned Tram 17 to the tracks following an extensive restoration.
'The Dome' (42 Portacoms with a canvas top) on Mayoral Drive which housed CRL staff during the construction, is to be disestablished. In November, the space will be returned to a smooth asphalt surface.
Volunteers from Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-A-Māui Trust, Queen Charlotte College, Waikawa Bay Primary, local farmers, and KiwiRail staff came together for a planting day along the banks of the Blue Hole spring near Bridge 189MNL south of Picton in Koromiko.
Auckland Transport is trialling the use of classical music at a Constellation Bus Station to help create what it calls a more “chilled-out environment”. The music is on for 24 hours a day at low volume.
Auckland Transport has shared a photo of the temporary platform being used to construct Taupaepae, the new busway bridge over the coastal marine area near Chinatown.
Via Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis: Aotearoa is investing $802 million in much needed new hybrid trains for the Lower North Island with a contract awarded to Alstom. Just what does this mean in practice?
The Aratere has had the 'Interislander' branding painted over on the port side of the vessel.
Fullers360 Kekeno left the McMullen & Wing yard 2 weeks ago after an 8-week refurbishment, with Te Kotuku arriving at the marina last week for engine replacement and survey work.
Horizons Regional Council has picked up the NZ Public Transport Authority award for achieving the greatest growth in patronage in New Zealand in the 2024/25 financial year.
McMullen and Wing have shared a progress photo of AT2, the second electric ferry for Auckland Transport. The focus is now on engineering, electrical, interior and manufacturing and installation of the hydrofoil. They have confirmed they are working toward a launch scheduled for mid-October.
Auckland Transport have announced they are officially moving away from the transitional name of Waitematā (Britomart) to just Waitematā.
Mana whenua gifted the name Waitematā Station for Britomart Station. The name reflects the station’s proximity to the Waitematā Harbour, which was named after its flat, glassy waters resemblance to matā (obsidian).
I wish Fuller's refurbishments addressed the dismal passenger gangplank loading of their ferries used on commuter runs. Single ailse and narrow, saw a Mum with side-by-side twin stroller nearly get stuck in one recently, had a few mm clearance each side