Off-peak trains to run next year

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Aucklanders are being promised Sunday and evening trains, as new operator Connex knuckles down to running the region's rail network.

Regional council transport chairwoman Catherine Harland said at a handover ceremony at Britomart on Monday that the council would introduce new services in stages from next year.

That would be after duplicate rail tracks between Mt Eden and Morningside were completed, and after an upgrade of the region's fleet that would bring more refurbished trains into service.

Ms Harland, who is not seeking re-election in October, said network improvements and a 30 per cent rise in patronage were achieved, despite "negative, destructive attitudes and behaviours" directed at transport in general and rail in particular in the past three years.

"That is phenomenal growth beyond pre-Britomart predictions and something I believe truly silences the critics who ... claimed Aucklanders won't catch trains."

She was confident that French-owned Connex, which provides passenger transport in 23 countries, would help the regional council and its partners to move services into the future but said there would be no "instant magical changes".

"There will be ups and downs along the way and Connex, in partnership with the regional council, has accepted that challenge."

Transforming the network after decades of neglect required a determined slog by many organisations and politicians, Ms Harland said. She urged her successors not to allow any lapse or change in direction to deny Auckland a modern, reliable and attractive passenger rail service.

Associate Transport and Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard commended the regional council for transforming the rail service into "the start of a modern attractive transport option for Aucklanders", which she said the Government was strongly behind.

"It is an extraordinarily good thing to see that the regional council is at a point where it can form a new partnership to deliver rail services to Auckland."

Connex Auckland general manager Chris White said the company was under no illusion about the challenges it faced in running a system that had suffered from under-investment for many years.

"However, we believe that by combining the experience of our new New Zealand staff with the processes, systems and knowledge from our Connex operations around the world, we can start improving the operational performance and maximise the region's investment in the rail system."

He was initially drowned out by Britomart's public address system, but said he didn't mind, as long as it meant the trains were running on time.