Subscribe to RSSKingsland Revamp Opens
All Blacks and local body officials arrived by train at the Kingsland train station this afternoon to talk up the RWC 2011.
Rugby World Cup minister Murray McCully, who wasn’t on the train, opened the revamped station, which includes more exits and entry points for those who will attending the matches and heading to Eden Park - including an underpass tunnel from the northern platform coming out at Sandringham Road at the foot of the station.
The Minister unveiled a plaque.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was the leading “star.”
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at the opening of revamped Kingsland train station.
The Kingsland station, the key part of the rail public transport station for the games, will have a test run next Saturday with the Tri-Nations Springboks game at Eden Park when RWC2011 - type traffic and parking restrictions will come into force around the area and special trains, stopping at Britomart and Grafton only, will be running from late afternoon.
Guests at the opening tried out the new stairs to Sandringham Road before they were closed again to the public until Saturday.
The official party headed off to neighbouring Eden Park for a few celebratory drinks.
The Sandringham Road area around the station continues to be a work in progress and without the controlled pedestrian crossing being installed yet, traffic had to be held up so the stars could cross the road.
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10 Comments
Why didn’t he catch the train, oh thats right the government would probably prefer to shut the whole system down. He doesn’t look that happy about being there.
@ Matt L I think he had to come direct from the airport. He was very jovial but the weather on the platform wasn’t the best.
Quite a few big-name players by the looks of the photos.
The weather in Auckland wasn’t the best! Great to see how it goes this weekend.
Awww, you didn’t include pictures of all the unfinished work!
opened? no level crossing in place? game next weekend….
FAIL is def on the cards
Carl - I assume you mean a crossing of Sandringham Rd. If that is the case it won’t be an issue as the road is closed on big game days anyway.
Carl, would you rather have improvements all remain closed until everything is finished? Sure you can - the train equivalent would be waiting to open the double-tracking of the western line until we are done with electrification.
Stuff gets finished at different times. If something isn’t all done yet, but a useful part is, just open it.
@ Matt L, wasn’t aware of that, possibly not a fail then, but on a serial note, an underground passage or decent sized over bridge to the ground would have been better.
But I guess you can’t have the best of both worlds.
hope it goes well for them, because in all honesty it needs too.
also on another note, are they any other stations that are actually within walking distance of the ground?
I know over here in Perth, some venues have special event stations, clearly only opened for “Special events” basic platform only stations….
is there any chance another station or “platform” could be constructed in time of next year to help ease any pressure?
is there any need to? just never caught the train to the rugby, but would now be really interested to, just to see how it works.
Carl, Morningside Station is to be used to shuttle people in the westerly direction. That platform is approximately 700m away, counting the kinks in the route, and I understand that walking route was to be upgraded too.