Marking First Anniversary

This week marks when the first Electric passenger train began revenue service (taking passengers) on the Onehunga Line. Since then the Electrics or EMU’s for short (Electric Multiple Unit) have been rolled out fully on the Manukau (Eastern) Line and partially on the Southern and Western Lines.

There have been a few hiccups along the way with the EMU 6 car sets (so double units) having door issues until just recently, the entire fleet being grounded owing to a traction and infrastructure fault, and cancellations there and there. However, reliability has been improving with the fleet and punctuality is improving (except on the Western Line).

The full roll out for the EMU fleet is set down to August 1. However, Pukekohe misses out until Auckland Council and the Government pull finger and get the Papakura to Pukekohe section electrified. If Council had their wits about then the $110m price tag PLUS the $4.5m Manukau South Link would be in the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan with construction complete by 2018 at the absolute latest.

Talking Auckland gives thanks to those such as Councillor Mike Lee, and Campaign For Better Transport for getting the EMU’s here today and one year on. 

Still, one year down and many more to go. One step at a time for The World’s Most Liveable City although we still have a long way to go: Mill Road and Regional Development (We Are Not Achieving The World’s Most Liveable City)