Subscribe to RSSOnehunga Short-Changed
How typical.
Why do we always get short-changed by cost-saving solutions that will never take us into the future.
From the original harbour bridge design to Newmarket’s platforms to almost every other important infrastructure you can think of.
As some of us have been suspecting, it’s now finally publicly confirmed that Onehunga’s 55-metre platform will be too short for the 3-car electric units, which need 70.
Onehunga station won't be long enough for electric trains
KiwiRail blames the constraints on keeping the line away from the nearby apartments.
ARTA suggests running the trains into Onehunga, but letting people get on only two of the three cars.
It’s hardly worth even debating such nonsense. It’s not good enough.
We either have a train service that takes us into the modern era of travel or a half-ass mickey mouse system that, like the daily ritual of train drivers swapping ends on the Western Line trains at Newmarket, is a laughing stock amongst commuters who have travelled overseas.
How does this happen over and over again?
Updated: ARTA defends decision
13 Comments
It is so unfortunate that plans created by professional planners are ignored by accountants who never use public transport. The people at ARTA think that they can cut corners where they choose because those using public transport do so because they have no other alternative and will put up with whatever is thrown at them.
Delivery managers are now being appointed for the new Auckland Transport, lets hope those chosen are able to understand the term ‘Customer Service’.
I’m sitting here in London, checking up on the local news back home and THIS is what I wake up to? London’s just built a lovely new rail bridge extending the Overground to Shoreditch, and Auckland can’t even get a friggin suburban platform right?! UNBELIEVABLE!
What a bunch of clowns-their names and faces should be made public.
“keeping the line away from the nearby apartments”
Say that one again!
What utter and complete rubbish I have ever, ever heard. They say they want to boost capacity and ridership, in addition to modernising the rail
network, really? Shortening the platform and maybe rebuilding the rail line was a waste of time and money, and destroys all the hardwork put into the rail network to bring it up to world standards and first class status. If they say “keeping the line away from the nearby apartments” helps for whatever reason, surely they can remedy this, surely. One more thing the future Airport Rail Link is suppose to connect with the line and patronage will be bolstered from Onehunga, the Airport and other major points, can KiwiRail answer this
- “How can the platform accomodate all those people, when theirs more people on a shorter platform?”
Sadly, they’re just living by the old kiwi motto, “Near enough is good enough”.
@ Ian M. Name and shame. I like it, but they probably wouldn’t even take note.
This is just madness.
Maybe a bit of temporary scaffolding at the end of the platform
(A Sydney trick)
What’s the cost of an extra 15 metres (a bit of intelligence)
@Suzie the intriguing question is will Auckland Transport stop these things happening
@Paul Intelligence is certainly lacking
@Phil That is the attitude. i can hear them saying it
@Bill Yes dubious excuses
@Andu Embarrassing but with the party central saga, Auckland’s reputation is getting worse by the moment
@Ian M We know some of them but even naming them won’t make a difference. they don’t care.
“How can the platform accomodate all those people, when theirs more people on a shorter platform?”
The station will not work with an airport link at all (it is off the line to the future bridge). You can consider that short-sighted too, but seeing the time it will take until we get an airport line, and the costs involved, I am not so fussed on that.
“We either have a train service that takes us into the modern era of travel or a half-ass mickey mouse system that, like the daily ritual of train drivers swapping ends on the Western Line trains at Newmarket, is a laughing stock amongst commuters who have travelled overseas.”
This is a completely silly comment Jon, anyone who has gone overseas will see plenty of examples on the most modern railway systems around in where trains arrive in a station going one way and then leaving in the other. I agree with the silliness of making this station short but don’t exaggerate to the point that your argument doesn’t hold water.
@rtc yes but the point is Newmarket’s platforms were also shortchanged and the station also ended up in the wrong place.
I too have travelled on trains around the world.
I stand by my statement.
I think criticism is a bit unfair in this case, as we shouldn’t forget that Onehunga was never included in the original project DART. By adding Onehunga, they had to cut other aspects of project DART as additional funding was never allocated for the Onehunga Branch reopening. And it hasn’t been cheap - look at all the level crossing upgrades now taking place. Eight crossings as a cost of around $150k each, while other crossings around the country that have been on upgrade waiting lists for many years continue to wait.
Onehunga is getting its railway, and a completely new one at that. Why complain? You can still board three car trains at a two car platform.
Geoff, would drivers be able to unlock the doors on just two cars and leave the 1st locked?
I’m assuming the EMUs will have driver operated doors and clippies will be done away with.
I don’t think Newmarket ended up in the wrong place at all - placing it somewhere else (where? north of the track intersection Western Line Southern Line?) would have robbed it of much of its central-ness. As for the station being short-changed - I don’t actually know the length of Newmarket, but there in fact, it will be as easy as pie to lengthen them, I think.