Commuters drenched at station

The Newmarket train station walkway is open to the wild weather. Photo / Doug Sherring

New Zealand's biggest new train station has won awards for its architectural design - but that's proving little solace to commuters drenched by the rain as they walk through its main thoroughfare.

Travellers have slammed the $35 million Auckland transport depot's "ridiculous" shortcomings, forcing pedestrians to raise their umbrellas indoors as workers mop up deep puddles of water.

The Newmarket Station has a 65m covered bridge connecting it to Remuera Rd. Although the bridge is covered, open-air panels near the roof ventilate the walkway - and let the rain in.

The station opened last year, and in April this year it won an urban design award at the New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards.

Opus architectural consultant Stefan Geelen said the original designs envisaged the walkway being fully protected from the weather: "It was more of a financial decision of how much they were willing to spend. That's the reason from my perspective."

Auckland Transport denied that, saying the walkway was always to be open - but if the public wanted to close it up they would look into it.