Hundreds pack on phantom train from West Auckland

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Up to 200 West Auckland commuters are cramming daily into a phantom train which has yet to appear on regular timetables.

A 7.55am service from New Lynn to Britomart began as an unannounced trial almost three months ago, but word spread fast among commuters sick of frequent delays to trains from further west.

Auckland Regional Council member Mike Lee says it started with just 30 passengers, picked up 130 on its second day, "and now it is full standing and has been for some time".

"It took off like a rocket - and the whole time these services didn't officially exist."

Mr Lee says this should be an object lesson for planners whom he accuses of being unjustifiably pessimistic in estimating that only 300 commuters would use services he is trying to revive on a disused branch line from Onehunga to Penrose.

"I think we need to be a bit more positive about this," he told the council's transport committee.

"If we are going to get Auckland moving, the ARC and its officers need to get moving as well."

Auckland rail project director Elena Trout acknowledged in a report that the New Lynn service had proved successful and was already carrying up to 200 commuters a time, with no significant impact on the timekeeping of other western trains.

"Given that the service has achieved its objectives, it will now be included in future reprints of the timetable."

Mrs Trout also reported a successful start to new hourly Saturday train services on the eastern rail line through Glen Innes and Panmure.

Just under 1100 passengers were taken to Britomart on the inaugural runs the weekend before last.

But she also told the committee that Tranz Metro helped to boost the numbers by handing out free tickets with updated timetables.

On the western line, Avondale resident and rail user Suzanne Sinclair says it took her several days to twig that a train which kept turning up unannounced at the same time each morning was a new service.

"It was a mystery train and it is bizarre it is not on the timetable."

She said it provided welcome relief to Avondale commuters because it was more punctual than other trains prone to delays on the single-track line from Waitakere.

A council spokesman said each timetable reprint cost about $10,000 but the new service was included in a special school-holiday timetable informing passengers of temporary rail closures and replacement bus services to prepare for new track.

The line will be closed from Morningside to Mt Eden for much of the next fortnight, although morning peak services will run until about 8.30am and buses will pick up passengers at stations along the way after that.

This is to allow rock-blasting near Dominion Rd and clay excavation around Kingsland. The work marks the beginning of a $23 million project between now and January to lay 2.2km of duplicate tracks needed to double the frequency of rail services between New Lynn and Britomart.