Time to find out the cause of the “intermittent power fault”
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Yesterday after Auckland Transport grounded the Electric Train fleet on July 23rd owing to an “intermittent power fault” (according to Auckland Transport Chief Operating Officer Greg Edmonds (see Day 11 and the Electric Train Fleet is Still Grounded ) we saw the fleet back in operation for the evening peak services.
FINALLY!
I have sent a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request to Auckland Transport on the causes, fixes and any mitigation to and to prevent future intermittent power faults that would otherwise ground the EMU fleet again.
You can keep tabs on the LGOMIA request here: https://fyi.org.nz/request/1864-cause-of-the-recent-electric-trains-being-grounded-the-fix-and-what-mitigation-is-being-taken-to-prevent-it-in-the-future
Below is what I have sent to Auckland Transport on the Electric Train grounding saga:
From: Ben Ross
July 31, 2014
Dear Auckland Transport,
I am enquiring about the recent “intermittent power fault” that
grounded the Electric Train (EMU) fleet from Wednesday 23rd July
until the evening services of 31st July.
Specifically please I am seeking the following information about
that grounding:
1) What caused the intermittent power fault that lead the eventual
grounding of the EMU fleet on 23rd July.
2) How was that intermittent power fault caused that lead the
eventual grounding of the EMU fleet on 23rd July.
3) Why did the intermittent power fault happen when possible smaller
versions of the fault occurred ever since the EMU’s began revenue
service on the Onehunga Line in late April. These smaller faults
causing EMU’s to shut down and often force cancellations or delays
of other services such as seen on the 21st and 22nd of July. In
light of that could have the intermittent power fault been
prevented if proper tests were carried out before the EMU fleet
went into revenue service on the Onehunga Line
4) What did Auckland Transport (and partners – if applicable) do to
fix the fault to allow EMU’s to resume revenue services as of 31st
July
5) Will the fix mitigate against any future intermittent power
faults that could cause groundings of the EMU fleet
6) Is Auckland Transport looking at other mitigation techniques
apart from the fix to prevent future intermittent power faults
grounding the EMU fleet again
7) How many substations were built to power the electrified rail
system and the EMU’s
8) How many substations WERE PLANNED to be built to power the
electrified rail system and the EMU’s.
9) If less substations were built than planned then why was this
the case AND could the lack of substations be a mitigating factor
that caused the intermittent power fault
10) Is Auckland Transport investigating whether the 110kv National
Grid line that follows the Onehunga Line from Penrose to Onehunga
Station could be causing the interference thus intermittent power
fault with the EMU’s.
If not why is Auckland Transport not investigating this.
If so what are the results or will we know the results publicly.
I look forward to your reply
Yours faithfully,
Ben Ross
———–
We await Auckland Transport’s response. In the meantime I seriously do not want to read another Tweet of the fleet being grounded due to intermittent power faults again -_-
Finally as a passing note on the coverage of the EMU grounding: “After copping stick from a quarter that should have known better I do not look back in regret covering the groundings if credible information and theories pass my way. I blog on Auckland issues whether it be the good, the bad or the down right ugly.”
Talking Southern Auckland 
Ben it’s great that you are continuing to push this one. I’m afraid that at least one of the other sites has too cosy a relationship with AT and AC to be objective and to ask the hard questions.
Indeed.
The Mayor has told AT to begin an investigation into what caused the 10 day grounding. From the report seen on Stuff and as I have picked up in my latest post tonight (Friday) the Mayor is wanting “answers” in days not weeks.
Whether that is because my LGOIMA has spurred a reaction I shall never know. Much like when I began reporting on the faults we had the groundings on the 23rd.
One way or the other the answers will come out on what the fault is. It is just a shame it has taken this long, a LGOIMA and extensive blogging to get to this point. A point that should of never been reached if proper planning and tests were carried out long before the Onehunga Line went live in late April.