Subscribe to RSS2010: A Year Of Openings
2010 was the year we saw plans and construction work turn into visible modern improvements to Auckland’s train network.
It was a year of openings - and AKT, unlike the mainstream media who didn’t see it as a story, was there for every one.
Next year we can look forward to the opening of the new Manukau link around July and the CBD rail link construction start around ….?
Here were the major openings:
NEWMARKET January
Newmarket was the first to open - just after the Christmas break and everyone wanted to have a nosey:
It was impressive and instantly popular.
GRAFTON April
A huge complex construction job - replacing the Boston Rd stop and creating a Grafton stop with a new Khyber railbridge.
Steven Joyce turned up to claim it as his as did John Banks who would not suspect he would not be mayor of the new supercity at the year’s end.
AVONDALE June
Avondale’s station got moved and was popular with locals - except for the lack of cycle racks and a park and ride , with residents complaining about cars being left outside their house all day.
KINGSLAND EXTENSIONS July
All Blacks attended the opening of the Kingsland train station platform extensions and underpass for the most annoyingly used term of the year “in time for the RWC.”
ONEHUNGA (September)
This was the way all train openings should be - colourful, festive with a strong nod to local history and open to the public. And the public arrived in droves including locals who remembered the line nearly 40 years ago before the line closed to commuter trains. Even the dignitaries had fun.
Even In April, we were debating if it could ever be built in time!
TE PAPAPA, PENROSE II (September)
To service the restored Onehunga line, a station opened at Te Papapa and Penrose got its second station dedicated to the Onehunga line - giving southern travellers another train service in which they could chose to get as far as Penrose.
Te Papapa's train platform being constructed
Penrose's old station getting a baby platform to the right
Penrose II - the Onehunga platform
NEW LYNN TRANSPORT HUB (September)
A distinguished guest attended the invite only opening of the fully completed New Lynn transport hub - the last big project to be opened by Bob Harvey in his role as Waitakere Mayor.
The Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand attended and impressed when he spoke about Auckland’s traffic woes which lead to frustrations and time lost along with the effect of vehicle fumes on the environment.
Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand with New Lynn MP David Cunliffe
The Governor-General quoted from former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan who had said at a conference:
‘The future of humanity lies in cities: in good urban governance and sustainable urban development. We need to make the urban revolution work for people, not against them.’
This was only weeks before he thrown into the spotlight thanks to Paul Henry’s comments on TVNZ.
Labour supporters displayed a banner reminding those attending it was the former Labour finance minister who had given the initial go ahead for it.
The old bus dept is demolished
10 Comments
Great progress in 1 year I have to say - let’s keep up the momentum! Thanks for the overview.
It’s been a good year for Auckland Transport, particularly rail. I look forward in 2011 to Len Brown and the Auckland Council putting pressure on the Nat’s and in particular Steven Joyce to get at least the rail loop underway.
Huge progress and we still have electrification to come in the next couple of years. Fingers crossed for the CBD loop after that.
There are now cycle stands at Avondale Station. (5 on each side of the platform).
I am disappointed that I won’t be able to get the train when I go back to NZ for a week next week. (A trip to Glenbrook will have to suffice) Nevertheless I will have to have a nosey around.
Great overview. It has indeed been a huge year for New Zealand. Let’s just hope the progress continues in 2011!
Oh I love the plaques with Steven’s name on them…….
Oh I love the plaques with Steven’s name on them…….
Well, if it’s all complete with the New Lynn train station, and now that the line was moved underground, what are they doing now with construction site annoyingly close to my house???
November 7 - Its a new road to extend Clark St to bypass the town centre, I believe the idea is to turn Totara Ave between Gt North Rd and the station into a shared space. One thing to remember is that the entire New Lynn trench and station is a roading project first and foremost as the only reason it was approved was due to the traffic congestion caused by the train line.
The council took Michael Cullen to the old roundabout and showed him what the traffic was like with just one train line and half hour frequencies and said with double tracking and 10 min frequencies the barriers would be down for more than 60% of the time so traffic would be horrendous which is why they agreed to fund it. On the positive side it has given New Lynn a very nice and unique station that should hopefully make catching a train or bus much more attractive.