Leave Your Comments
This weekend as we know Auckland is hosting a series of events (NRL 9’s, The Rapture Concert last night, and the Lantern Festival) which is causing pressure on our transport system (private and public).
I am hearing both positive and negative comments from yesterday and no doubt today. Just to put it out there by 3pm yesterday Britomart Station had “processed” 17,000 people through the Gate-Line that were heading OUTBOUND. The numbers do not include inbound or Line Transfers (Eastern Line to Western Line as an example). That is record-breaking numbers – even breaking the Rugby World Cup opening night (a night I tend to forget).
That said I am opening this post for your comments and feedback from the weekend events on transport. Whether on the road, waiting for a bus, or on the train this weekend leave your comments below. Please remember The Rules when posting. Also if you are a first time commenter your comments are held in moderation until I approve or reject them. Once approved you are free to comment on the blog.
So I leave the mic to you. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport do watch the blog so no doubt they will see your comments. Again play the ball not the man please in your comments. I am off to hit the South Western Motorway to avoid Southern Motorway traffic so wish me luck there.
Over to you – the reader.
Talking Southern Auckland 
Used NEX from Albany at 8:15. 15 minute services. Wow. Great. No need to look at the timetable. Just turn up and go. Not many seats left by Smales. Sign of things to come.
Went to CAA meeting and off to lunch at 2pm or so. Lots of people around the city. Sign of things to come.
My wife and son caught the NEX from Albany at 4:30. Car park was already nearly full. On a Saturday. A sign of things to come.
Caught CityLink up to Wellesley St. Lots of people on the bus and lots heading to the Lantern Festival already. Obviously plenty were using PT. We already knew it would get a lot busier as it got towards dusk.
Left Lantern Festival at 7:45. Packed. People everywhere. We ambled down Lorne / High St etc. Why were there cars on these streets last night? What a cool route to Britomart but for motorists getting annoyed with pedestrians.
Got to Britomart at about 8:30 (must have just missed a bus). Queue for NEX was about 50 people long already. By the time the NEX turned up just after 9pm the queue was heading up Customs St. Even once the bus was jammed full there was still a huge line. Lucky for us, a young lady gave up her seat for our worn out 6 year old. So nice of her. Thanks whoever you were. He was asleep in minutes.
Then at Constellation station the driver started to drive off with the back door still open. There was a young girl and her mum about to get off. Someone yelled out. Very close run thing.
And, for a final act, there was a bus from Eden Park that turned up as we got out with just 4 people on it.
The biggest issue was the weekend service schedule for the NEX. This was an opportunity for AT to keep high frequency on all day and promote it to see just what kind of demand there is. Well done for obviously reacting but this doesn’t leave a huge level of confidence in the average users mind for next time.
As for the Western Line, although I didn’t go out there, it does highlight the importance of getting the CRL built asap. Rail buses from town is a very poor attempt. We need another plan in the meantime.
Auckland Transport missed a whole bunch of very obvious signs that the evening was going to be very busy. I’m sorry but with HOP card data, there is no excuse for this.