Waiting in vain for a train

By STUART DYE

When civic dignitaries held the official opening of Britomart yesterday, it was just the end of another week of misery for commuters.

Monday: The 7.45am at Ranui is running 15 minutes late. The conductor says the engine wouldn't start. He apologises for the heating (not working) and the electronic signs board (out of order).

The train stops outside Britomart for 10 minutes before pulling into the terminal at 9am - 30 minutes late.

Commuter Margaret Becroft: "If our train is 10 or 15 minutes late we all think it's fabulous. My family has been travelling on this line since the mid-1930s and, if anything, the service is worse now."

Tuesday: The 5.20pm to Papakura leaves at 5.50pm. Guards say there have been a few problems - two of the trains have broken down and another caught fire.

David Hawkins: "I've been forced to get an earlier train in the mornings to make sure I get to town on time - Tranz Rail have won."

Wednesday: Joy for commuters at Manurewa when the 7.40am express arrives on time soon turns to frustration when it slows to a crawl at Otahuhu, before stopping completely at Newmarket. The train trundles into Britomart at 8.25am - 15 minutes late.

Daniel McKenzie: "Since Britomart's unofficial opening, the trains I have used have been bang on time only six times out of a potential 23.

"All we want is a service that runs consistently on time and is reliable. I would have thought that this would have been the number one priority for Tranz Rail and the ARC, rather than a $40 million glamorous station."

Thursday: Emma Edwards, 18, arrives at Avondale station at 7am, but the 7.07am service from Waitakere never arrives. There's no train at 7.37 and no train at 8.07. She drives into work.

"That's more than one and a half hours with no trains going into town. That's a shocker. Just one day before Britomart is officially opened, it's a disgrace.

"I've been trying to use trains for three months, but after the last few weeks I'm giving up."

Friday: "I needed to be at work for an 8am meeting so brought the car in as I can't rely on trains to get me into the city on time," says Terese Rowlands.

The 24-year-old administrator has abandoned the Western line rail service after a week of growing increasingly annoyed.