Drivers at each end of train to speed up Newmarket backward shuffle

Sharon Hunter. Photo / Supplied

Double rations of drivers will be added to peak-hour trains manoeuvring between Newmarket and Auckland's western line from next week, to reduce delays through the newly reconfigured railway junction.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority says train operator Veolia will begin a trial using "relay" drivers between Britomart and Newmarket from next Tuesday.

That follows concern at the time it takes for drivers to change ends on western line trains, which have to call at Newmarket's new $35 million station before reversing out of it.

Drivers face a 96m walk between opposite ends, which will grow with the planned advent of six-car units.

Authority spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said peak-hour trains arriving at Newmarket would be met by an extra driver, who would get into what would become the front cab, so the original driver would not have to walk from the far end.

Instead, that driver would get off the train, and wait for another.

The authority has also authorised a bypass of Newmarket Station for one of the most heavily-patronised evening commuter trains, the 5.30pm westbound service from Britomart.

Trains on that service will from April 11 continue on a direct link through the Newmarket junction triangle to the western line before stopping at the new Grafton Station, beneath the intersection of Park Rd and Khyber Pass Rd.

The changes are being taken by Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee as an acknowledgment by the transport authority, still a subsidiary of his organisation, of deficiencies caused by locating Newmarket Station south of the junction.

He said the use of the direct link to bypass Newmarket showed how short-sighted the authority had been in over-riding his concerns and demolishing over Christmas a temporary station at Kingdon St on the western side of the retail district.

Retaining that station would have allowed the direct link to be used without denying passengers access to Newmarket, as they could have left western line trains at Kingdon St.

The authority says the decision to demolish the station was primarily based on how much it would have cost to extend its platforms for six-car electric trains "and more importantly that a major interchange station had been built within a short walking distance."

But Mr Lee said anyone catching the wrong train at Britomart would face a long walk back from Park Rd to Newmarket, a distance of about 1.5km.

Ms Hunter said the Newmarket bypass would be made clear to passengers on the 5.30pm train at Britomart.

She denied that the change was an acknowledgement the Newmarket station had not been built on the best site.