Tag: Auckland Transport

Our New Electric Trains Breaking Down in Peak Services? [Updated]

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I thought tests were meant to eliminate this?

 

I caught this Tweet last evening during the PM peak services:

 

I do expect faults to come up during electric train testing. I somewhat expect maybe one spitting the dummy in the peak services. But I do not expect two EMU’s to break down with apparently similar faults inside Britomart during the peak evening services (or morning if it was morning) causing the issues that happened (cancellations and apparent bus replacements).

 

So the question is Auckland Transport what will be done to prevent this kind of failure again. Especially as such failings or near failings have been noted as seen here: http://www.bettertransport.org.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2460&start=2760

The last thing you want is two EMU 6-car sets fully loaded with 750 passengers each breaking down with that same traction fault but this time on the Southern Line (the busiest of all lines) during the peak services…

 

Come on Auckland Transport let’s get this sorted while the EMU’s are still on the Onehunga Line

 

[Update] Diesel Unit (and ADL Class) Replacing Electric Train for Onehunga Service tonight

It seems we are still beset with issues with the electric trains that should have been sorted in testing.

This from earlier this evening:

Looking at the replies to the Tweet it seems an ADL diesel unit (the predecessor unit that plied the Onehunga Line before the Electrics went into service late April) has been replacing the EMU’s on Onehunga runs owing to no Electric unit available.

September is when the Manukau Line is meant to get the electric trains running revenue services. I hope by then the issues are sorted…

 

 

All About Auckland

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I talk Transport and The Southern Initiative

 

It has been a busy week for me as I conduct some TV interviews over some hot button issues in Auckland.

On Tuesday I was with Transport Blog’s Patrick Reynolds talking Auckland’s Transport (and Auckland Transport as well) especially in light of the Day Passes now available and Auckland Transport facing budget reductions in light of the Long Term Plan rejection by Council. You can see Dr Levy’s reaction to the Budget situation here: All About Auckland Show Episode 23 – Dr Levy gives a lesson on Tectonic Budgeting. 

Note: you need to register but it is free

Today I will be back at the studio talking about the Southern Initiative which has again become a hot button issue especially with the Councillors. Those who follow Talking Auckland know that in November last year I delivered a public critique against the Southern Initiative. In May this year the Councillors initially rejected more funding towards the Southern Initiative until a few issues were cleared up first. Now my critique against The Southern Initiative has not been against the Initiative itself nor its place in the Auckland Plan. My critique has been on lack of publicly available information and a portal like Facebook and Twitter so we can see and interact with the Initiative. For heavens sake The Southern Initiative affects all of South Auckland. It would be nice if we could see some clear information (that is not in job vacancy descriptions), a chance to interact on the Initiative like we can with Shape Auckland and the regular updates that we get with the City Centre (see A Story of Downtown Auckland [Updated] for the latest).

 

So where and when is this show?

It is here:

All About Auckland Show

Episode 24

SkyTV Channel 83 FACETV

Monday at 7.30pm – Repeats Tuesday 12.30pm

On This Week’s Show:

  • Special Housing Areas and Housing New Zealand
  • The 10 Year Budget Rebuild and Development Pressures in the South East

As for the Transportation chat:

Next Week

Transport Matters

A New Series looking at current transport issues around Auckland.

Next week Auckland Commentator Ben Ross and TransportBlog.co.nz Patrick Reynolds joins me in the studio.

 

 

I shall update you on the Southern Initiative shoot and when that will screen.

 

Tweet of the Day

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Pays to check in advance

 

So Auckland Transport has a nice “little” launch for their new Travelwise program in which the Mayor was attending and even speaking to the gathering. Well in his presentation this happened:

 

Oh dear someone cue the crickets…

I do not know what is more sad?

The fact no one put their hand up which shows as an indictment from our transport failings over the last 25 years, or someone forgot to check prior to the Mayor asking that rather embarrassing question…

 

Oh if you are wondering why I have not been forgiving a particular department of Auckland Transport (no not the Planning and Strategy division which I have never had issues with and actually enjoy a good relationship with) this week then check this in response to the shuttle situation from the AT CEO and see why:

 

Update: I was writing this up this happened outside the Travel Wise event:

Hopefully and by the looks of it the cyclist is okay. But with the cyclist in a bus lane where cars shouldn’t technically be and wearing hi-viz and still gets hit by a car you wonder why children do not cycle to and from school.