Get Moving: 11 train stations about to be revamped

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Like most people who catch the train, we spend a lot of time waiting at train stations. Some between Henderson and Britomart are worse than bus shelters. Why doesn't someone build proper shelters for the passengers? - Philip Lyall, Henderson

The Auckland Regional Transport Network has a programme to revamp 11 stations by September next year.

For the western line, funding is approved for the "baby Britomart" station at Henderson and for Baldwin Ave station. It's planned to upgrade Sunnyvale, Fruitvale and New Lynn stations in 2006 and Avondale in 2007-08.

Ranui, with Papatoetoe and Glen Innes, were the "signature" stations or blueprints for the station upgrade programme.

Other stations to be revamped are: Papakura, Homai, Puhinui, Manurewa, Middlemore, Panmure, Orakei, Meadowbank, Morningside and Ellerslie.

I've driven past portable radar speed display trailers, one in Orakei Rd and the other in Clevedon. In each case, I have made several passes to confirm my speedo reading compared to the device. One confirmed my speedo is reading 56 km/h at 50 km/h and the other 110 km/h at 100 km/h. Who provides these devices and can we be 100 per cent sure of their accuracy? - Dave Smith, Orakei

The Accident Compensation Corporation provides the devices as a gentle warning that you are travelling too fast.

ACC says the devices have a significant impact on driving behaviour.

Manufacturer 3M New Zealand says the devices are calibrated to within 1 per cent of a vehicle's actual speed and typically a car's speedo will give a higher reading than the car's actual speed.

Why can't we have a tertiary monthly pass that allows tertiary students to use bus and ferry services? Something like the adult "Go Rider" pass which is flexible and allows travel on all modes of transport. This would give an incentive for a future generation of travellers to get around without cars. - Jeff Olsen, Takapuna.

The Auckland Regional Council says it is investigating the introduction of a tertiary all-modes pass.

It is a slow and complicated process to get a system that suits seven operators but it can be achieved - as was shown by the introduction of the GetAbout Discovery day or month pass, which gives unlimited travel on almost all of the region's buses, trains and ferries.

Meanwhile, students are eligible for 20 per cent off their fares on bus, trains or ferries.


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