Auckland councillor Mike Lee is not alone in doubting the practicality of running trams from Britomart to the airport. The proposal is one of several under consideration by Auckland Transport for another mode of public transport to and from the airport, which has asked for a decision by the middle
Editorial: Why trams to Auckland airport are bad idea
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Artist impression of Queen Street with a light rail / tram picture. Image / supplied.

It believes the journey from Britomart could take 44 minutes. Mr Lee is dubious for good reason. The trams would need to travel at up to 80km/h. These would not be the rattling old trams of now distant memory in Auckland - a relic of which can be ridden around the Wynyard Quarter. "Light rail" cars are swish modern vehicles that whirr along almost silently. But, like trams, they run on streets, sharing the road with other vehicles and stopping at lights like the rest of the traffic. That is on top of their frequent stops to pick up and drop off passengers.

They may accelerate faster than a bus but it is hard to believe they would beat a bus to the airport as Auckland Transport's consultants claim. They estimate a bus would take 45-60 minutes. They cannot be thinking of the excellent express bus that already runs to the airport from Queens Wharf. To be an improvement on that service, any public transport connection would need to be as dedicated; it could not be making all the stops on a commuting route.

That is why an express train seems the best option. Auckland's central rail corridor does not cross too many streets and it would seem possible to extend the Onehunga line to the airport alongside the motorway.
The airport company envisages an underground station in the new domestic terminal. That sounds perfect. AT should forget about trams and get real trains in there.
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