Subscribe to RSSMiddlemore Gets Rough Bargain
Auckland Transport says it is going to keep an eye on a train issue that is upsetting Middlemore out patients and the large staff there who use the trains.
The trains have become unreliable.
The issue was raised by AKT after complaints involving over 30 people.
The train services can suddenly become express from Otahuhu to Papakura, obviously missing out on Middlemore station.
Those complaining said they can’t understand is why they do that from Otahuhu rather than from Middlemore where the vast majority of passengers travelling to south Auckland get on and off.
In the most recent occurrence last week, people on train kicked up a fuss about being told to get off at Otahuhu .
As a compromise the train staff let them off at Mangere station but not Middlemore.
Dumped at Otahuhu?
Auckland Transport responds:
“You are correct in respect of operational decisions being made at times of service disruption. in order to minimise the overall impact on services on the network. Moving forward AT will work closely with Veolia to minimise any inconvenience to customers at stations such as Middlemore.”
We need to give these customers stronger assurances this won’t happen again.
10 Comments
Is this Veolia trying to keep their on-time stats up? If so its discusting and I hope AT has dealt with it strongly . I cant see any other reason why they would decide to disadvantage the majority as much as possible for the slight benefit of the minority, AND only run a service for those travelling the furthest(most uneconomical group to benefit I would imagine)
AT should forbid Veolia from turning an all stops into an express at all times.
I’ve often wondered if preventing people from alighting at their station, and forcing them to stay onboard, against their will, constitutes kidnapping under New Zealand law?
How can they get away with doing this? I am well travelled and have used trains in over 30 countries and have never seen such reckless behaviour on an urban rail system.
@Geoff - Pose the question to Veolia and see what they say….
I think Veolia does it when a lot of trains are banked up due to a disruption.
First one goes as an express so not to hold up the others following close behind.
I get annoyed when a train passes by without stopping, but usually there is another one that pulls up not too long after.
@Aucklander, yes but the main disruption is for those people on the train that want to get off!
Easy solution just pull the emergeny stop alarm as the Train is nearing the station.
@Jb , The way I read the above article is that the train became express from otahuhu to papakura. people waiting at middlemore complaining that the train went past without stopping to pick them up.
The people already on the train had to get off the train at otahuhu for a following train to middlemore or other stops between otahuhu and papakura.
I agree thats very unfair. However the article didn’t say that they were over carried to Papakura.
@Aucklander, you are correct, Middlemore staff were told that they had to get off at Otahuhu and wait for the next train in the hope it would not be another express service.
I think the point of the article should have been that Middlemore Hospital is a major employer in South Auckland and given the public service they provide, staff need to be arriving at work on time.
By going express from Otahuhu (no decent shelter and no PID to assure Middlemore staff that another train would be coming) just isn’t logical. I’m not saying Middlemore passengers are any more important than other passengers, but I think Veolia should be paying more attention to who it’s passengers are if they want people to continue to use what is clearly an unrelaible service.