Mayor Len Brown has released the design plans and poured concrete for the $17.5 million upgrade, which includes a new station building and shelter along the majority of the platforms. The walking distance between buses and trains will be less than a minute.

The new station is part of the $100 million first phase of AMETI, Auckland’s biggest transport project after the Waterview Connection. It includes a new north-south road linking Mt Wellington Highway and Morrin Rd, a 220m tunnel for the road, cycle paths, new footpaths and three new bridges.

The upgraded station will be the entry point to the new South Eastern Busway. The busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga town centre and Botany will cut public transport journeys by up to half and attract an estimated 5.2 million passengers per year.

Construction of the first stage of the busway from Panmure to Pakuranga is scheduled to start in 2015/16, subject to funding and consents, as part of AMETI Phase Two.

“The Panmure Station upgrade is just the latest example of the work we are doing to unclog Auckland’s roads and unleash the potential of all of Auckland,” says the Mayor.

“With 5.2 million passengers a year, the AMETI South Eastern Busway is a key part of driving major increases in public transport use.

“People will be able to quickly get from Pakuranga to all parts of the CBD by using the uncongested busway then easily transferring to a new electric train to any of four stations in the CBD when the City Rail Link opens.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown pours concrete at Panmure AMETI project announcement

“Auckland’s electric trains, integrated ticketing and projects like the City Rail Link will further boost patronage and create a transport network Auckland can be proud of.”

Auckland Transport Major Projects Manager Rick Walden says construction of AMETI is progressing well with a new road tunnel excavated and the walls almost completed.

“A new bridge next to Ellerslie-Panmure Highway is also taking shape, with beams being lifted into place. Traffic will be moved onto it at the end of the year while the existing highway bridge is demolished and replaced.”

The new higher and longer Mountain Rd bridge opened in late July and a new re-aligned section of the road opened recently.

AMETI Phase Two Panmure to Pakuranga, currently scheduled to start in 2015/16, includes

• Replacing the Panmure roundabout with a new intersection that will remove the traffic bottleneck and reduce crossing distances for pedestrians from up to 500m to less than 50metres
• A busway with lanes separate to general traffic from Panmure Station to Pakuranga town centre along the north (cliff side) of Lagoon Drive and Pakuranga town centre along the north (cliff side) of Lagoon Drive and Pakuranga Rd
• A new Panmure Bridge next to the existing one for the busway, cyclists and pedestrians
•  Completing about 7km of new cycling paths and 6km of wide new footpaths, including new paths linking Panmure and Pakuranga
• The Reeves Rd flyover, a direct link from Pakuranga Rd to Waipuna Bridge over Ti Rakau Drive and above part of Reeves Rd, avoiding congestion around Pakuranga town centre

The campus building, with 10,000 square metres of floor space, will cater initially for 1500 full time equivalent students. The campus is planned to eventually cover a three hectare area and have 25,000 students.

It will give a much needed boost to the Manukau service and a taste of a new era where trains and tertiary campus are linked- the newly announced Auckland University campus in the old Lion Brewery area in Khyber Pass Road will give a similar boost to patronage of the neighbouring Grafton station.

Architects Warren & Manhoney have an image of the finished building on their site.

The platform is now being extended.

PT popular
I have long argued: Build it and they will come.

They have. Each month AKT has reported and published the graphs of public transport usage which goes in only one direction – up while Wellington’s has been largely flat.

ONEHUNGA: Proved to be popular in its own way & as part of the Southern Line

In the last monthly AT stats for 2011, for November, people using public transport in Auckland continued to take giant leaps – a 9.1% increase in the last 12 months.

Auckland public transport patronage totalled 69,032,572 passengers for the 12-months to Nov 2011, an increase of 5,738,734 boardings or +9.1%.

PATRONAGE: 12 months to November 2011

RWC’s mixed bag

The holding of RWC provided Auckland with numerous transport upgrades but rail use was a mixed bag.

A popular AKT mantra was that if public transport was not reliable, people would not use it after having a bad experience.

We all know how badly Auckland coped with the RWC opening night – with awful scenes played over and over on TV of passengers pulling emergency buttons in overcrowded trains and scrambling up banks to safety while trying to get to Eden Park.

The worst possible advertisement for public transport.

An independent report commissioned by AT said that not estimating the number of people likely to attend the Opening Night waterfront celebrations was the biggest factor in the night’s transport and Quay St fail.

Another independent report put forward transport lessons from the RWC as a whole.

It left a bad taste although subsequent RWC matches fared much better, AT said they reached their goals and thankfully patronage figures continue to rise.

RWC TRAIN FAIL: Long queues, frustration and poor communication on opening night

AMETI

At last attention was being given to growing PT in the much neglected East Auckland with the first contract awarded to Fletcher for work for the weirdly named AMETI project including plans for a busway along the Northern busway concept.

This will be one to watch.

AMETI: Millions of dollars will be rewarded by a leap in PT growth

Back to the future

Light rail in the form of old heritage trams arrived at Wynyard Quarter – a sneaky way to introduce real modern light rail eventually.

In the meantime, the battle has finally be won to get the trams going beyond going around in a loop around the Quarter and at least get to Britomart which is now in the planning stages. The Mayor talked about it going up Queen Street.

Despite the sceptics, the heritage trams proved to be a popular attraction especially at the weekends.

DOCKLINE: Wynyard trams began running

Getting across

Cycling and walking got some attention but never enough for those who are advocates.

NZTA and Auckland Council did not come to the party- at least so far – for the proposed pathway across the Auckland Harbour Bridge but a rally about it attracted keen supporters who are prepared to pay a toll across if it can be built. Cyclists got a taste of crossing the bridge proper in the December TelstraClear cycle race but a taste is never enough.

PATHWAY: Image of what the Auckland Harbour Bridge walk cycleway could be like

The bridge itself will be a big issue in the next 12 months wiyj an announcement about whether the next crossing will be another bridge or, as local politicians want it, a tunnel.

An NZTA board paper on the next Auckland harbour crossing emphasised that another road bridge is the cost-effective solution but does not make any recommendation.

Another confidential report referred to columnist by Brian Rudman as appearing in the well informed AKT (thanks Brian!) confirmed bridge traffic is actually dropping.

Walk to work

The hugely popular RWC Fan Trail  -10,000 people one night- showed people will walk. Especially if it’s fun along the way and safe.

Sadly after attracting 10,000 to walk to Eden Park, the fan trail concept died and another opportunity to promote walking as an option was lost. There’s a missed opportunity to promote walking as a cheap healthy option and a way to help reduce car dependency.

FAN TRAIL: People walked and buskers entertained from bus shelters

Dominion Road

A controversial city arterial issue moved ahead.

Auckland Transport began geotechnical investigation along Dominion Road to inform the design for the Dominion Road Upgrade project.

Auckland Transport reviewed the project which was begun under the previous Auckland City Council. The project will upgrade footpaths and landscaping in village centres along the route, widen bus lanes and upgrade the road. As a result of community feedback, Auckland Transport has decided it will retain the ability for cars to park in bus lanes outside peak hours.

Grafton Bridge

Anything to do with bus lanes got Aucklanders blood pressure rising and enforcement of Grafton Bridge at times it is bus only continued to cause arguments. I don’t know why the simple solution isn’t taken – ban it to motorists at all times.

Motorways got bigger

Big motorway projects got the go-ahead. Waterview got the nod in a fast tracked process but there remains concern about the ventilation stacks proposed and we’ll have to see how it all works out in reality.

NZTA originally presented this view of the stack as it would be from a primary school yard

And Victoria Park tunnel opened and will get its new southern lane layout in the new year.

Before it opened to traffic, we got the chance to walk through it.

VICTORIA PARK TUNNEL: Thousands walk through it on its opening day

A question mark remained over the Wellington Street on-ramp.

Hobsonville Motorway was also opened. The burnt orange look that dominates the landscape drew considerable debate.

HOBSONVILLE; Noise walls made of wood were painted orange

But any art to dilute the harshness of infrastructure is always welcome even though one man’s art is…

This was the finish of the long-running Sturges Rd rail bridge with its artwork.

STURGES RD: The new bridge art work

Gimmie shelter

Proving more controversial was the $2.1m replacement bus shelter concept for Karangahape Road. Some simply hated it. But the old ones were 40 years old and past their use by date. One upsetting issue though was when they first appeared the shelters blocked the iconic city view.

And also controversial was the late decision to give more shelter to the RWC visitors using Kingsland’s station close to Eden Park. Fair enough but canopies at $2.1m? It felt excessive.

Kingsland canopies: Put up in July for the RWC at cost of $2.1m

Arrival times

And probably also up for debate next year is the new solar powered electronic display for bus information appearing at some bus stops that do not have the conventional signs. Great for the environment but you have to look into the screen to see when the bus is coming, not glance up. And the DLY DUE bus electronic sign information system continues to be a joke.

You have to peer into this to see when the bus is coming

Real time information was being introduced on train stations, one train got trialled for Wi-fi, some trains got recorded on board announcements but we have yet to see the concept popular overseas of a quiet carriage when mobiles and loud music are discouraged.

Still this was a year we made visible progress.

And reader Andrew W also found some photos of Auckland rail of only a few years before that date -a few of those published below – that seemed like something out of  centuries ago ,not the early 2000s.

Take Newmarket. You know that busy Auckland suburban railway hub that caters for more than one line.

When I started the blog Newmarket station was  inadequate with not even proper signage.

AKT complaints helped lead to a man being hired to go with a loud hailer at peak times to announce which line a train was arriving as you could not tell if  a train was going west or south and often people got on the wrong one (as I did twice).

Even more bizarre that a man yelling into a loudhailer on the platform was the fact, the young low paid student’s English was his second language and I couldn’t tell what he was saying.

Newmarket in 2003

We get frustrated when trains don’t arrive or get delayed today. But catching a train in Auckland a few years ago was a real lucky dip.

This was the rundown but heritage Newmarket station building that will soon get lovingly restored and recycled as the new Parnell Museum train stop.

OLD NEWMARKET; Hardly the award winning architectually designed hub of today

The Newmarket signal box

This is how we caught trains in 2002. And we thought that was modern rail.

Waiting at Avondale. You’d never really know if you would ever make it.

ORAKEI: These widely used shelters, only now completely vanishing, reminded me of high school toilet blocks

We grumble about timetables today. When I started writing this, you had only the odd train coming through.

Train schedules and signage in 2002

So not surprisingly see how low patronage used to be on suburban lines – while  this year’s patronage reports  talk of millions.

As we await those flash new electric trains, when I started catching them, they reminded me of the centuries-old ones you would see in those old classic black and white movies!

And we have put up with much during the rejuvenation of rail.

This was catching a New Lynn train in 2009:

EXCITING: A new temporary station for New Lynn!

Breakdowns were the norm. You would think you were in the middle of the African jungle trying to get through difficult terrain, not in the middle of West Auckland.

We waited for another train to arrive to tow it

So before you grumble about what happens today, check out where we have come from in the last decade.

Auckland rail 2009

Key rail events in photos 2009

Auckland 2010 highlights

Rail 2010 A year of openings

Earlier:

It feels like the longest road building exercise ever.

Finally traffic is flowing as it should on Sturges Rd Henderson with the replacement rail bridge and a balustrade erected as a safety requirement for electrification.

With infrastructure projects in the former Waitakere council area comes art.

STURGES RD: The new bridge art work

It was one of the nicest approaches the former Bob Harvey-led council did – trying to deaden the cold look of transport infrastructure. The council held the vision and intent to integrate art into infrastructure projects to create a sense of place, to become landmarks and create a sense of identity.

It’s policy was official defined as saying: Culture is reflected and appreciated in the everyday life of the community and the City is itself a work of art. Council participates in creative pursuits and has a deep and wide perception of arts and cultures in the City, which leads to a sense of place and identity and an arts rich urban, public space.

Way back in 2007, local artist Anthony Sumich was judged as presenting the most compelling idea for art on the bridge. He had approached local schools and worked with students to produce drawings based around the idea of “happy” to feature on the glass balustrade on both sides of the bridge.

The simple drawings the children produced were laser cut into the steel elements that make up the canopy’s of the artwork. The council budgeted $6,586,000 for the Sturges Road overbridge replacement from which $300,000 was set aside for completing the arts integration.

Anthony Sumich’s concept for the bridge saw five ribbons enveloping the structure – the artist’s interpretation of the Waitakere Ranges which are clearly visible to the south and west of the bridge.

Thanks Andy for your photos.

This involves lowering and re-aligning the tracks where the station will be – at the foot of the Domain off Cheshire St where the Mainline Steam Depot is.

PARNELL STATION; Work started today

The project will cost $19.2m.

The track is being lowered to enable the appropriate grade for the station platforms.

The works continue over the next month, as part of the Christmas rail disruptions.

The station should be finished mid-2013.

PARNELL STATION: How it will look

MAINLINE STEAM: A busy construction site for a month

The new station will include the old Newmarket station building, which was removed for the construction of the present revamped station, is in storage in Henderson.

It is in two sections and will need to be re-joined after the move to its new home Parnell. That will cost $1.1m to achieve. Mainline Steam is keen to use some of the building for its offices.

The track lowering needed to be done pre-electrification.

The work involves:

• Lowering the track by a maximum depth of approximately 1.75m over a length of 600m in order to achieve a 1:80 grade for station platforms;
• One retaining structure on the eastern side of the track (within the existing designation);
•  Two retaining structures up to 4m on the western side of the track, portions of which are location outside the existing designation boundary and within the proposed alteration area (i.e. on Domain land);
• Batter slopes located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Formalising drainage systems located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Track realignment including shifting the track up to 1.8m east (away from the Auckland Domain) to accommodate the station platforms, while maintaining the existing use of Mainline Steam;
• Closure of the existing pedestrian underpass which provides access to/from Auckland Domain and construction of a new underpass approximately 60m to the north and formation of new connecting pedestrian path on the Auckland Domain;
• Earthworks involving 17,000m
• Vegetation clearance to provide for the above works. This comprises native and exotic species, native understorey shrubs, grasses, open grass and weed areas.

An existing underpass to the Domain also has to be removed and replaced.

Parnell station will go here

Three weeks ago, Auckland Council approved an extension of a railway designation into the Auckland Domain to allow the lowering of tracks.

The Auckland Transport application for the extension covers a 538m strip of land alongside the existing rail line, covering 2954m².

PARNELL STATION: Where it fits in

The ARC has pushed for a heritage station there for years.

Parnell Inc, the Parnell business group, came up with its idea and found a champion in ARC Chair Mike Lee who has continued to push for it.

But the project seems to be getting later. We won’t be seeing the station until 2013 just before the first new electric EMUs arrive.

The council says work on the actual station won’t start until Christmas next year (2012).

The Auckland Transport application for the extension covers a 538m strip of land alongside the existing rail line, covering 2954m².

A decision to grant landowner approval of the designation was necessary to allow track-lowering works to start before Christmas.

The station at the foothills of the Domain alongside Mainline Steam’s depot was to be open about September next year.

The timetable from now is:

• December 2 obtain regulatory approval for the alteration to designation.
• 2 December 2011 – 9 December undertake any pre-commencement requirements e.g. construction noise management plan, herpetofaunal mitigation plan.
• 10 December contractors on site for preparatory works.
• 17 December 2011 to 17 January 2012 shut down period (block-of-line) for enabling works.
• Christmas period 2012/2013 Newmarket Station to be relocated to the site, platforms and associated works to be constructed.
• 2013 electrification of the railway

Parnell station design

Councillor Sandra Coney, chairperson of the council’s Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee, says the station project with its new connections to the Domain, Parnell and the CBD will kick-start the revitalisation and restoration of the valley.”

“We’re assured that works will be carefully carried out to ensure minimal disruption to the Domain environment,” said Councillor Coney. “The committee’s approval requested careful landscaping and general improvement of the area with much better access to Parnell and the Domain.”

Parnell station will go here

The committee required that Auckland Transport engaged with Maori over the plans as the additional works surrounding the station were developed.

The Council says there will be no effect on archaeological sites in the area.

Further agreements between the council, Auckland Transport and New Zealand Railways Corporation have to be settled regarding the construction and operation of the railway station.

At last estimate made public , the full station and necessary track work will cost $14m.The old Newmarket station building will be relocated to the site to add to its heritage theme at a  cost of $1.10m.

The work involves:

• Lowering the track by a maximum depth of approximately 1.75m over a length of 600m in order to achieve a 1:80 grade for station platforms;
• One retaining structure on the eastern side of the track (within the existing designation);
•  Two retaining structures up to 4m on the western side of the track, portions of which are location outside the existing designation boundary and within the proposed alteration area (i.e. on Domain land);
• Batter slopes located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Formalising drainage systems located on the existing and extended designation i.e. including on the Auckland Domain land;
• Track realignment including shifting the track up to 1.8m east (away from the Auckland Domain) to accommodate the station platforms, while maintaining the existing use of Mainline Steam;
• Closure of the existing pedestrian underpass which provides access to/from Auckland Domain and construction of a new underpass approximately 60m to the north and formation of new connecting pedestrian path on the Auckland Domain;
• Earthworks involving 17,000m
• Vegetation clearance to provide for the above works. This comprises native and exotic species, native understorey shrubs, grasses, open grass and weed areas.

It is served by only four southbound AM peak trains each weekday during school term time to primarily serve King’s College students. It will do students good to have to walk a bit more!

Auckland Transport says  that the station would require significant upgrade works to continue to operate as the platform would need extending to accommodate 6-car trains and EMUs, AIFS fare payment devices and vending machines would need to be installed for HOP integrated ticketing and the shelter, CCTV and PA system would need upgrading to current standards.

AT says that based on the service provision the cost of lengthening and upgrading cannot be justified.  King‟s College students, the overwhelming majority of users of the station, can use Middlemore Station in the morning, which is a few hundred metres walk  – as they already do in the afternoons  – from the beginning of the 2012 school year.

AAT had consultation with King’s College and users at the station and says one piece of negative feedback was received.

The new February 2012 rail timetable is currently being finalised and approved by the joint KiwiRail, Veolia and AT transport committee. The timetable will include the Manukau Branch Line and improved Western Line frequency.

If all goes well, the station at the foothills of the Domain alongside Mainline Steam’s depot would be open about September next year. It will incorporate the old Newmarket train station building.

At last estimate made public , the full station and necessary track work will cost $14m.The old Newmarket station building will be relocated to the site to add to its heritage theme at a  cost of $1.10m.

Auckland Transport has released new designs.

Aerial views:

Earlier drawings have shown this:

Auckland Transport planners have been predicting that the station will end up being among the 5th most used stations on the Auckland rail network.

The old Newmarket building, which was removed for the construction of the present revamped station, is in storage in Henderson.It is in two sections and will need to be re-joined after the move to its new home Parnell. Mainline Steam is keen to use some of the building for its offices.

This is how Newmarket looked until a couple of years ago.

One of the arguments that has been going on since the plan emerged in the ARC days has been whether it is just for people to visit the Museum and Parnell or can also serve as a stop for some university students.

It’s pleasing to see the latest concepts accept the need for the station to connect with the university.

The project has been called complex and challenging because of the:

Station configuration

• The impact on the Domain
• A lengthy planning and consultation process involving the Council, iwi, residents and businesses
• Maintaining long-term track access for Mainline Steam
• The challenge of achieving progress in that Christmas block when trains are not running
• Getting it all done ahead of electrification
• Maintaining and enhancing the frequency and reliability of the services involved

It got partly wiped out when the new transport hub opened a year ago – and on that day Waitakere deputy Mayor Penny Hulse couldn’t resist getting in a digger to give it a hard nudge.

Now she has got back in drove a digger to complete the complete demolition of New Lynn’s old bus station, and adjacent properties, making way for a car park.

NEW LYNN: Penny Hulse demolishes old bus station

The new development, part of the continuing regeneration of New Lynn- is being jointly developed by Infratil and includes a four-level, 300-space public parking building.

The demolition started a year ago

The 7000 square metres of commercial floor space also has a three-level medical centre while the ground floor will feature shops.

The old bus depot was demolished a year old when the transport hub opened

The new development will sit alongside Auckland Transport’s redevelopment of the McCrae Way area behind the New Lynn War Memorial Library, Totara Ave and the Great North Road shops.

The Totara Ave shared space

The development is a joint venture between Auckland Council and Infratil Infrastructure Property Ltd.

This is an earlier graphic of the development.

An artists impression of Merchant Quarter

It will be completed in a year’s time.

The new Clark St overbridge

The Totara Ave shared space and the Clark St extension are also part of the changes around there.

One thing is for sure.

The old bus terminal will not be missed.

This is the old New Lynn bus terminal

The construction site is being set-up set-up, including establishing a yard and working to protect services that run along bridge, and some test drilling is being done over the next few weeks.

ORAKEI RAIL BRIDGE: The bridge will be raised by one metre

The bridge over the North island Main Trunk line is being replaced to ensure there’s enough clearance for the overhead wires for the electric EMUs.

ORAKEI: Diggers arrive to get ready for rail bridge replacement project

Just before Christmas, the work begins with:

• Bridge works – building the first of two spans over the existing bridge structure, part demolition of existing bridge during Christmas shutdown
• Pedestrian – diversion via temporary overbridge
• Road traffic – shifted to basin side, two-way traffic maintained at all times

ORAKEI PARK N RIDE; Don’t rely on it up to July

More on the Orakei programme through to July

The station’s platform will be reduced in width by two metres and extended by another 20 metres, and the Southern Line tracks relocated to create space for an additional northbound lane to be constructed on the adjacent SH1 at a later date.

ELLERSLIE; Train station revamp to allow fourth motorway lane

I just called.. to say.. I love you tra la la…

The bridge will be lifted to a new height that gives improved clearance for traffic on the motorway beneath.

The station will look similar to those at Kingsland and Sylvia Park, with a new lift for pedestrian access connecting to bridges over the motorway and train lines.

The existing stone ramp will be replaced by a set of stairs, and a second lift will provide better access to Kalmia Street from the rail overbridge.

Two new shelters will be added to help protect passengers from the weather.

Southern Line trains will continue to run as scheduled except during rail network closures.

You’ll have to use the underpass to access the station.

This is part of the summer Auckland motorway work and KiwiRail Summer programe.

FOOTNOTE; AT says a temporary staircase will replace the ramp on the western entrance. There is also ramp access to the platform from the underpass between Sultan St and Findlay St.

The project will cost $8m but NZTA says all up the cost is up to $20m.

Driving the change is that the Southern Line tracks need to be relocated to create space for an additional northbound lane to be constructed on the adjacent SH1 at a later date.

The station will look similar to those at Kingsland and Sylvia Park, with a new lift for pedestrian access connecting to bridges over the motorway and train lines.

The existing stone ramp will be replaced by a set of stairs, and a second lift will provide better access to Kalmia Street from the rail overbridge.

ELLERSLIE: How the new station will look |NZTA

Two new shelters will be added to help protect passengers from the weather.

Construction is getting underway and will be in full swing during the Christmas rail closedown. It is scheduled to be finished in March.

ELLERSLIE TRAIN STATION TODAY: Platforms to change

As part of the upgrade, the pedestrian bridge from the town centre to the station will close temporarily. During the closure, the bridge will be lifted to a new height that gives improved clearance for traffic on the motorway beneath. The nearby underpass for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility users will remain open during the closure with security employed to monitor the site.

Because of the motorway component, NZTA is driving the project in association with the other key stakeholders KiwiRail and Auckland Transport.

Train services continue to run except for the network closures.

Orakei Local Board has been pushing for it b ut Auckland Transport will tell its meeting tomorrow it doesn’t support it based on its research because the cost of building the station is likely to be” very expensive.”

It says that currently the location is 25m below the nearest road and getting plant equipment into the site is difficult. An approximate  estimate is that it would cost at least $ 20,000,000.

The completed station would require access routes to be built to it and the nature of the ground is such that this would be expensive, says AT.

Anyway AT believes that passenger numbers are unlikely to support its operation economically.

The track alongside the Purewa cemetery at St John's

And there’s more.

The “relatively isolated location would make security a major issue and the cost of ensuring a safe environment for passengers has to be considered when appreciating the long term cost of maintaining the station if it is built.”

AT says that currently the central rail network is working at capacity. Adding another station to the network requires purchasing more trains would slow the network down and increase its vulnerability.

And in order to serve the residential area around Gowing Drive AT would be required to purchase additional private properties further increasing the overall cost. Properties around there certainly would not be cheap and some of the land in the area is church land.

However AT has to keep going with its research. Auckland Council has requested ito conduct further investigation up to a cost of $50,000.

I see it’s that time again.

I always love the way there’s a worker and a security guard forever peering over the construction zone area.

But no one ever sees anyone actually fixing it or doing whatever maintenance you do.

Last April the out of action situation felt as if it went on for ages…

Bizarrely the escalator issue is one of the most popular on this site as people are so damn frustrated by it !

WhenIi saw it tonight I ignored it thinking not another escalator story please…

But 15 people have set me photos of the current problem (thanks!)… here is one of them

BRITOMART LAST NIGHT: It's escalator out of action time again

April last year

And in December before that:

What can one do to fix it? No one ever seems to have a simple answer. Always lots of scratching of heads.

How do we fix this?

The record seemed to be November 2009 when it took 34 days to fix a broken escalator at Britomart.

Whatever the problem, it didn't look healthy

As a very last resort, security guards always get summoned for advice!

The station opens in February.

Don Grant, Chairman NZ Geographical Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa, tells AKT:

“The NZGB is aware of proposals that will be made by KiwiRail seeking to make official the names of ‘Manukau Railway Station’ and ‘Manukau Branch’.

These proposals have not yet been submitted to the NZGB but are expected shortly. It is understood that Auckland Transport and Auckland Council both support ‘Manukau Railway Station’ and ‘Manukau Branch’.

The next meeting of the NZGB is scheduled for early December 2011 and, despite a full agenda, the Chairperson has agreed to include these proposals for an initial decision by the NZGB.

Following that meeting, the public consultation on these proposed names (as set out in the NZGB Act 2008) would likely begin at the end of January 2012, thus avoiding the holiday period and allowing reasonable public input.

The minimum statutory consultation period is one month, so the earliest that a final decision could be made would be early March – if there are no public objections.

If objections are received, additional processes would be necessary that would result in a longer timeframe. However this all depends on the Board actually receiving the proposal in time for it to be considered at the December meeting.”

Earlier post

Anyone for Hayman Park Station? Or MIT?

The Geographical Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa meets shortly to choose the official name for what we have been calling the Manukau Train Station.

All is set for the new station to be operating from next February – but the Geographical Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa has the last say in what it will be called.

We went through the same debate with the Grafton train station which replaced Boston Rd station – called that because, well it’s in Boston Rd. It could have been the Mt Eden Jail stop.

The Geographical Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa had to choose between Khyber Pass and Grafton for the station name.

The Grafton Residents group insisted it should be called Grafton because Khyber Pass is not a suburb and train stations are named after suburbs.

Yes, true,Auckland train stations are never called after street names like Baldwin Ave, Sturges Road, Fruitvale Rd.

At the time Cameron Brewer as then Newmarket Business Chief submitted it shouild be Khyber Pass. The station is on the corner of Khyber Pass and Park Rd and the actual Grafton village opposite Auckland Hospital is a bit of a walk away.

“We respect that over the years the suburb of Grafton’s identity has been eroded away by the likes of motorways. However while we have a lot of sympathy for this disappearing suburb, we strongly believe the name of the station should reflect its actual geographical location nothing else. This station will sit right in the middle of Khyber Pass Road, a well known Auckland arterial road. What’s more, let’s not forget that it is replacing ‘Boston Road’ so there is a strong precedent to call the station after a road not a suburb. Very few Aucklanders standing on the corner of Khyber Pass Road and Park Road would tell you they are standing in Grafton.

The site of the new station is on the very far reaches of modern day Grafton. If the station was named Grafton it would not be a good geographical representation of where it is and would only confuse commuters. The most popular destination in Grafton was the Auckland Hospital, yet if visitors thought the Grafton station was the best option of getting to the hospital, they’d be disappointed when they got dropped off at the bottom of Park Road.

“Grafton residents are using this naming exercise in an attempt to reclaim some suburban identity. That is to be commended. However this is not about what’s in the best interests for Grafton residents or Newmarket businesses. This should be about what’s in the best interests for rail commuters and we strongly believe ‘Khyber Pass’ most accurately describes the new station’s geographical location. We have every confidence the New Zealand Geographical Board will agree.”

The Geographical Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa went with Grafton.

Until the Board names Manukau – the station 5 minutes walk from the Manukau Westgate and also the site of the planned new Manukau Institute of Technology Tertiary campus- the new whatever station near Hayman Park can’t get any signs.

Manukau? The new station needs a name

I hope they stay with Manukau. Isn’t that what people will expect when they look to get a train there?

Got a better suggestion you want to submit to them?

The new Manukau underground station

The most incorrectly station is Mt Eden. I grimace everytime an out of towner or stranger to the area gets off and discovers it’s a long walk to the actual Mt Eden village.

Councillor Cameron Brewer moved the amendment.

This was passed at the Council’s strategy and finance committee after a call from Orakei Local Board member Ken Baguley, the former Auckland City Council transport committee chairman.

There has been some lobbying to the local board for some months for a new Eastern Bays rail link and AKT has been strongly in favour of this.

A deputation was made by Chris McGuirk and Roy Clements to the Orakei board earlier in the year arguing that a small train station in the vicinity of St John’s and Selwyn College would benefit college students.

They said this would ease the congestion on Kohimaramara Rd and therefore the safety of staff, students and the public.

It would also:

• Facilitate a faster movement of students from the Panmure /Glen Innes/ Mt Wellington areas who at present have to use two to three buses to arrive and leave from Selwyn
• Provide better transport for the community of St John’s
• Help the movement of sports athletes and fans for ASB Stadium events
• Allow the residents of Kohimaramara the option of tail via a small link road from Kohi Rd to the proposed new station.

At an earlier meeting of the board, Ken Baguley said that with increased awareness of the use of trains to provide passenger transport services, the residents of St Heliers, Kohimarama, Mission Bay and St Johns miss out on the opportunity to access train services because there is no intermediate station on the South Eastern line between Meadowbank and Glen Innes.

The board considered there could be an opportunity to utilise land bordering the rail below St Johns Road at the St Heliers Road intersection to provide a rail station that could address this issue.

The board passed a motion requesting Auckland Transport to investigate the feasibility of an additional train station on the South Eastern line near Selwyn College with “kiss and ride” access from Kohimarama Road at that intersection of St Heliers Bay Road.

Selwyn marked with a cross

After the earlier Orakei board discussion, Auckland Transport had replied, saying that while there are “obviously some practical difficulties in providing a new station in the vicinity of Selwyn College, there was merit in the suggestion.”

Auckland Transport had assured the board that the proposition would be looked at properly so that it could “get to a more definitive answer.”

Now they’re being told to take do more homework to try to make it happen.

A station there would open up the opportunity for more growth in Auckland rail patronage and service an area that presently just misses out on rail.

Let’s hope it happens.

The local board has been told that at the same time, Ellerslie station will be upgraded to be ready for Auckland’s electric trains.

The station runs alongside the Southern Motorway.

ELLERSLIE: Train station right by the Southern motorway

There has been no official announcement of the details but sources say this will involve:

• Moving the platforms
• New lift and stairs to connect both pedestrian bridges to the station platform
• A new lift to give mobility users access to Kalmia Street
• New shelter and lighting, CCTV, PA system and the tag off integrated ticketing machine being repositioned
• Reconfiguring shelter and other rail infrastructure

Night work is apparently scheduled to begin November 1 after the RWC and won’t finish until next March with much of it happening during the month-long Christmas train shutdown.

Trains will continue to run as scheduled except during the Christmas network shutdown.

The pedestrian bridge from the town centre to station will temporarily close and pedestrians will need to use the existing underpass.

NZTA is leading the project and it’s said the cost of reconfiguring the station is being picked up by NZTA.

Ellerslie train station requires an upgrade

And in another big project, the Orakei rail bridge construction will start in early December.

Preliminary works to move utilities were completed in August.

And the electric ones won’t stop those rumbling long freight trains passing through.

More and more train stations have apartments nearby but if they’re new apartments, residents moving in know they have trains out their bedroom window at frequent intervals.

The noise from level crossings near residents is especially a troubling issue, judging by the regular emails to AKT.

The Sarawira Street level crossing in the well-heeled neighbourhood of Parnell,  around the corner from Newmarket, is especially a trouble spot. Auckland Transport’s board meeting agenda recently described it as a “particular problem area for train operations.” Trains come to a virtual stop.

The Newmarket Community Association calls it the busiest level crossing in NZ.

Residents have met with KiwiRail to discuss grade separation and the bell noise.

A bit of vegetation has been removed from Sarawira but that's not the solution locals want

The key issues are the frequency of train services now travelling through the level crossing, signalling restrictions and intervals between the activation of the barrier arms.

You can’t blame the residents who live down the hill towards the crossing. There was never the frequency of trains in this well established neighbourhood until recently and during the decades when commuter trains were becoming extinct, you can’t blame them for never imagining the sort of revival of services we have today.

The AT report pointed out that the volume of rail traffic and lead times required for safe operations through level crossings mean that the barriers are down for lengthy periods in peak hours and there are few opportunities available to local residents to cross the tracks.

To accommodate the needs of the residents and give them sufficient time to cross the tracks some trains need to be signalled for low speed on approach.

This is how close Newmarket is from the Sarawira crossing

Auckland City Council and ARTA had developed a plan to grade  separate the crossing however this will be a significant cost and no funding has been identified for the work to date.

AT has yet to suggest how to overcome this but does say alternative options are being explored as it considers “the existing situation is not sustainable in the long term.” That’s mild language for how some of  the locals put it.

Apartment residents in less well heeled suburbs know they have a railway station next door so have to live with it especially as they watched the stations or upgrades taking place.

Te Papa is alongside an apartment

Onehunga apartment residents did initially object to the station being so close

Morningside apartment owners have had issues of their own with a leaky building

Look up standing on Newmarket's platforms and you can see their washing