Hamilton-Auckland commuter service on track

By PAUL YANDALL

Commuter, one who spends his life

In riding to and from his wife

A man who shares and takes a train

And then rides back to shave again.

So wrote the American scribe E. B. White.

Tranz Rail's Waikato Connection rolled away from Hamilton's Frankton railway station platform just before 6.20 am yesterday, connecting the city with Auckland like never before.

The service is on trial for six months and is being pitched at weary Waikato car commuters, tired of enduring hours in worsening Auckland traffic and happy to live in the greener pastures south of the Bombay Hills.

The service stops at Huntly, Pukekohe, Papakura, Middlemore and Newmarket before arriving at the Auckland railway station in just under two hours.

From the station commuters can catch buses up Queen St and Karangahape Rd. The return train trip leaves Auckland at 5.19 pm.

Close to 70 people, among them city councillors and radio competition winners, were on board yesterday. But only 17 passengers took advantage of the chance to make commuter history - by actually paying.

Those who did - prices range from a $21 one-way single trip to a $494 monthly ticket - also missed out on the complimentary breakfast, but were at least granted a sunrise few would be able to enjoy while driving. They also arrived just five minutes later than the scheduled arrival time of 8.11 am.

The transport manager for Environment Waikato, Bevan Clement, says the service was a culmination of eight years of pressure from the regional council to get Tranz Rail to provide it.

"It's taken this long because, like everyone else, we know its necessary for the future but, like everyone else, we don't want to pay for it."

Tranz Rail has modelled the service on its successful Capital Connection route between Palmerston North and Wellington. Both have similar travel times, number of stops, and a potential patronage of around 200.

The company is to subsidise the service during the trial period and will hope for a few more than the 17 customers it got yesterday, says Tranz Rail's marketing manager, John Moriarty.

"Ultimately we see it paying its own way. We are confident the demand will be out there."

The demand is likely to be from people like Hamilton man Peter Stjernfelt. A young professional, he owns a house in Hamilton and would rather walk from the Waikato than end up living in the "city of traffic wails."

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