Achievement and Failures both at the same time
Source: pic.twitter.com/IUHNR2DboJ
It is been reported today that the rail network has reached 12 million rail passenger trips to the rolling year total ending September this year. This means we have surpassed Wellington at 11.9m trips on raw numbers but not at per population capital just yet.
From Radio NZ:
Auckland commuters eclipse capital
Updated at 7:29 am today – Todd Niall
Auckland has replaced Wellington for the first time as the country’s capital for rail commuting.
Auckland’s fast-rising use of trains has hit 12 million trips in a year, passing Wellingtons 11.9 million for the year to September and is another milestone for a city where the suburban rail network was at death’s door a little over 20 years ago.
It has taken Auckland just seven months to move from a rolling annual tally of 11 million in March to 12 million in September, helped by the progressive rollout of new electric trains.
Wellington’s patronage is also rising, but at a far slower rate. The capital’s manager of rail operations Angus Gabara, expects the city to reach the 12 million annual target by the end of this year.
Auckland Transport’s chair Lester Levy expects the rising patronage to continue, with a new timetable commencing at the end of the year, boosting weekend services.
The rise of the rail in Auckland is due to a multi-billion investment in the network over the past decade, building new stations, electrifying the network and buying a new fleet of trains.
New branch lines have been added to Onehunga and Manukau – the first to be served by the Spanish-built electric trains – which will extend to the main lines next year.
Auckland’s 12 million milestone and new status as the rail capital comes at an opportune time for mayor Len Brown, who this morning is in Wellington for his first meeting with Prime Minister John Key and senior ministers in the new Government.
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Full article and source here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/257454/auckland-commuters-eclipse-capital
In regards to the Mayor meeting the Government over the City Rail Link I leave this from just after the elections: Where Next?
Transport is a big key still yes but I see a realisation that our Mayor will not get the City Rail Link 2015 he has so pushed for. Council must be ready to consider in the Long Term Plan deliberations to move the full start date (not including the Precinct Properties section) to most likely 2018 at the earliest (so it is pushed to the 2018 LTP) when National (in 2017) will most likely bring it forward (call it a hunch). Pushing the CRL back to 2018 as well as a new transport package might give the City a breather as well as calm it down over the LTP debate.
I have seen the 10 Spatial Priorities first mentioned by the Mayor’s presentation to the Council. Well if money and rates are the issue then the Spatial Priorities have presented Council will a nice framework to take the City forward and rationalise what capital we have that wont blow the bank nor the ratepayers wallet. Food for thought for Council and Govt
So I wonder what the Prime Minister and Senior Ministers will say to Len this morning? Probably the same as pre-election (so an utter waste of time unless a serious counter proposal was put forward)
West Auckland Bus Network Consultation
Auckland Transport have started their consultation for their new proposed West Auckland Bus Network after South Auckland’s is all set to go mid 2015. More on the consultation below:
Consultation open on West Auckland bus network
21/10/2014 08:51 a.m.
A simpler, easier to understand bus network that connects better with train services, these are some of the proposals by Auckland Transport toimprove public transport for West Auckland.
Consultation on proposed changes to bus services including Helensville, Huapai and Kumeu opens today 21 October.
Anthony Cross, Public Transport Network Manager says more of West Auckland including some of the west’s major roads, like Lincoln and Great North Rd, will have more frequent bus services.
“We are redesigning bus services to take advantage of the huge investment in the rail system. In a couple of years, not only will trains be electric, they will also be operating at least every 15 minutes all-day, seven days a week. We will be using buses to connect with those frequent trains at key interchanges like Henderson and New Lynn.
Two new features of the proposals are a more direct and frequent bus to the North Shore, and an all-day bus service from Westgate to the city along the Northwestern motorway.
The motorway is a major bus route and Auckland Transport is investigating the possibility of a future busway similar to the busway on the North Shore.
“The New Network will change the way people travel – including the need for some passengers to transfer at key interchanges.
“A good example of how this is working, are the recent changes we made to buses in the Green Bay, Titirangi area. We massively simplified bus routes, improved timetables and have much better integration between buses and trains at New Lynn. We’re already finding people are responding positively to those changes and making better use of their local bus services.
The first of the public information events is at the Avondale Markets on Sunday 26 October. There will be maps, displays and AT staff on hand to answer questions.
The public have until 1 December to give their feedback. After consultation, changes are targeted for the second half of 2016, following a tendering and procurement process.
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Source: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/consultation-open-on-west-auckland-bus-network/
I had a look at the proposed network as raised a point with Transport Blog on the matter that the West Auckland Bus Network proposal seems inferior in many respects to the South Auckland counterpart. Transport Blog agreed with the sentiment. So I wonder if the West is about to get roughshodded again and why so?
West Auckland is facing large residential population growth but no major employment centre growth unlike the main City Centre and wider Southern Auckland (with its heavy industrial complexes) thus the West is going to be commuting long distances. It seems the transport network out there will not be set up for this for a very long time to come. Very disappointing as the West deserves better.
So let AT know your thoughts by clicking the link above.
Talking Southern Auckland 