Over the past five years, patronage on Auckland’s trains has more than doubled, rising to over 7.5 million passenger journeys per annum and is forecast to continue to grow strongly. In addition, significant investment has been made by both regional and central government in redeveloping Auckland’s rail network. This includes track works, upgrading stations and the building of carriage trains to meet the increased demand for rail travel.
ARTA is working towards upgrading the region’s rail stations to accommodate longer trains and greater passenger numbers, improve security and information, and to meet disability access standards.
ARTA has already upgraded 21 rail stations and all of the region’s 41 rail stations are planned to be upgraded by 2012.
The new rail stations all have modern shelters and seating, CCTV security monitoring, emergency help points, improved lighting, improved access for the mobility impaired, safety markings including yellow tactile strips strategically placed on platform for the visually impaired, public address system, information display boards showing timetable information and way finding signage/maps. A programme is underway for real-time information displays to also be installed at stations.
The commencement of passenger services to Manukau City is expected for 2011. Concept design for a rail station on connection to Manukau City Centre is complete and detailed design for the new station commenced in June 2009.
Work is also underway for the three new Onehunga branch line stations. Implementation began in 2009 with services expected to be running in 2010.
Six more trains are on order to be delivered from mid-2009 to support service frequency improvements, allow longer trains to operate for peak patronage growth and meet the expected transport demands arising from the Rugby World Cup 2011. Completion of this order, expected by the end of 2010, will ensure sufficient trains are available to deliver the planned services until the delivery of new EMUs as part of the electrification project.
ONTRACK’s Project DART is a series of improvements to Auckland’s rail network which will allow more frequent and reliable passenger services
Project DART’s $600 million construction programme includes:
The project is the most significant redevelopment of the New Zealand rail network since the 1980s. ARTA is upgrading stations along the Western Line (and elsewhere) and ONTRACK is undertaking the ‘below rail’ construction (i.e. platforms, tracks and signals).
With the completion of this project by 2010, trains are expected to run every 10 minutes at peak times on the Western Line.
Rail In The Future - 2030
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