Newer premises but slower trains

An artist's impression of the Manurewa rail-road interchange, which is to be completed in February.

South Auckland commuters are disappointed that fewer express trains will be available to whisk them downtown.

Only one morning express train from Papakura will arrive at a new Manurewa railway station and bus interchange from next Tuesday, compared with two now, and limited-stop services will be reduced from four to just one.

Construction starts next week on the $5 million facility, which is due to open in February as the region's first purpose-built transport interchange after Britomart.

It will be developed behind the Southmall shopping centre on the other side of Station Rd from Manurewa's existing dilapidated platforms.

Auckland Regional Transport Network, owned by most of the region's local authorities, will build the new station and a substantial footbridge for about $3.5 million and Manukau City Council is spending $1.5 million on bus bays and 150 "park and ride" car spaces.

The council says bus timetables will be coordinated to meet train departures, and there will be up to 50 per cent more rail services through Manurewa at peak times - six an hour - from Tuesday next week.

That is when rail operator Connex, contracted to the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, will launch new timetables boosting services by 25 per cent and extending trains to Sundays and past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Trips to Auckland from the Weymouth peninsula at the southern end of Manukau City should take about 50 minutes by feeder bus and then express train, almost the same as a car journey, says the council.

But it does not mention the reduction in express and limited stop services.

Manurewa Community Board chairman and rail commuter Daniel Newman says this will cause hardship for hundreds of workers who relied on express trains to reach Britomart within 30 minutes or limited-stop services taking just a few minutes longer.

"We are very very happy with that new station, the park and ride, and the bus interchange, but this will seriously inconvenience many people like me."

He said the sole remaining express train, the former Silver Fern railcar, was already "chocker" when it reached Manurewa from Pukekohe and Papakura and he did not know how it would cope with extra patronage. The alternative was to catch a train stopping at every station, adding 13 minutes to the trip.

Transport authority rail delivery manager Jeremy Sutton said last night that there was a tradeoff, especially with limited rolling stock, between express trains and greater frequency of services.

"We can't have too many express services, otherwise they will catch up with other trains," he said.

Connex also points to a new survey of Australian train passengers in which 52 per cent identified punctuality as their prime concern. Just 7 per cent attached most importance to journey times.

Manukau City acting transport planning manager Steve Dudley said the new station and parking area would be well-lit and attractively designed, as against the existing stop, which he called "a pretty unpleasant place at the moment".

He hoped bright lights, closed-circuit television cameras and security patrols would prevent graffiti and vandalism and provide commuters enough confidence to leave their cars at the station.

Improved station facilities and refurbished trains should leave people with fewer excuses for avoiding rail and persevering with cars.

New train service

* The good news: 25 per cent more train trips and a new station at Manurewa.

* The bad news: Fewer express and limited-stop trains.