Tag: Auckland Transport

Unacceptable By All Grounds – Open Full Public Inquiry Needed

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This story should not be occurring if Auckland Transport and Transdev Got Their Acts Together

I was shown this earlier today:

Train services leave Pukekohe commuter in tears

Posted On 10 Apr 2015 By :

A Pukekohe commuter has been left alone at night and in tears over delays involving Auckland Transport.

Kristie Weeks travels the Southern Line from Pukekohe to Britomart fives days a week. On Friday March 13th, Kristie caught her usual 5.18pm service home to Pukekohe.

After further delays the train reached Takanini and passengers were told the train would be terminating at Papakura and taxi vans would be arranged to take them rest of the way to Pukekohe.

Only two taxi vans had been arranged and Kristie was left in tears, alone in an unfamiliar place at night. With no seats left she was told she would need to make her own way home.

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The same incident happened the following Monday, fortunately, Kristie was able to get a seat on the taxi van that night.  More train delays and terminations continued throughout the week, leaving Kristie and other passengers sitting at a standstill for more than two hours due to broken trains ahead.

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Media Relations Manager for Auckland Transport, Mark Hannan, told We Love Pukekohe that this is unacceptable.

“There should have been replacement transport available for all passengers, and we apologise if this wasn’t the case. Transdev (Auckland) is investigating and are now contacting staff who worked those shifts.”

There has been no response since from Transdev to We Love Pukekohe’s request for comment.

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Source and full post: http://welovepukekohe.com/pukekohe-tears-fro-train-commuter/

That just strengthens my call for Auckland Council to conduct a full and open public inquiry into our metro rail network. Do the inquiry of confidence and faith grounds especially as patronage grows but that growth is at risk from confidence issues.

The last four weeks with rail failures are unacceptable and both Transdev insofar as their management and control room, and Auckland Transport need to lift their game. We do not need “accidents” owing to their respective failures like Pukekohe.

Serious Fraud Office to Investigate – Auckland Transport

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SFO to investigate previous “Conflict of Interest” claims

In 2013 it was revealed that there were issues relating to Auckland Transport’s roading unit (see: NOTICED AND NOT REALLY SURPRISED)

On Thursday and rather quietly given that we have just gone through the Easter Weekend, the Serious Fraud Office confirmed it would begin investigating Auckland Transport into the roading contract saga back in 2013.

From Radio NZ:

Auckland Transport charges laid

Updated at 9:32 am on 3 April 2015

Auckland Transport said the claims related to its road corridor maintenance business, which looks after more than 700 kilometres of roading in the region.

The Serious Fraud Office began its investigation, independent of Auckland Transport’s internal investigation, in October 2013.

Yesterday, it laid charges against an unspecified number of individuals linked to the council-controlled agency. No court dates have yet been set.

In a statement, Auckland Transport said a thorough review of processes and documentation was undertaken throughout 2012 and 2013.

It said it had since brought in more robust procurement processes and introduced new levels of contract oversight.

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Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/270311/auckland-transport-charges-laid

Something tells me this might be only the tip of the iceberg if a full investigation into Auckland Transport was to be done. That is turning everything right over upside down to make sure all is kosher in an organisation that can consume upwards of 54% of our Rates.