What happens in Auckland will impact Hamilton commuter rail service

Monday, 26 August 2019

The Rail Opportunity Network spokeswoman Susan Trodden looking ahead to regional rail services.

Secured funding for a commuter train could kick the door open for rail around the Waikato region but advocates say it'll only come after building confidence in the network.

After years of pushing for a passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland spokeswoman for The Rail Opportunity Network, Susan Trodden, said links to Te Awamutu and Cambridge are next.

The Puhinui Station in Auckland could have a say on Waikato's rail future.

'How can we advocate to extend it out into the region where we know there are thousands of people commuting everyday from Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga - that far - and how do we get some of those tourists using that service?' Trodden said.

On Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford Government confirmed $92m to build and run the passenger rail service - $79.8m from government coffers and $12.57m from local ratepayers.

Greater Auckland transport blog editor Matt Lowrie.

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The service is expected to get underway in June 2020 with two runs in the morning and two returning in the evening, carrying up to 150 passengers.

Passengers will take 2 hours 30 minutes to get from Frankton Station to Britomart.

Trodden said the key to future expansion is getting the service right.

'The first thing for me is to start when they say it's going to start, ensuring that the service delivers everything it's promised to deliver. It's two times a day, it does have WiFi, it is comfortable. All of that customer experience stuff is really important.'

Transport lobby group Greater Auckland released its Regional Rapid Rail policy prior to the 2017 general election which outlined its strategy to open up rail across the economic golden triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga and south through the King Country along the main trunk line.

It was backed by Labour and the Greens at the time.

Greater Auckland blog editor Matt Lowrie said the Puhinui Station upgrade in Auckland, which will establish a bus service to Auckland Airport, and recent announcements point to continued development of rail in the regions.

'They have also indicated there is a business case going to cabinet at some point on higher quality services between Auckland and Hamilton,' Lowrie said.

That might include faster trains, better stations, upgrading slower sections such as the sections of single track at the Whangamarino Wetland and Ngāruawāhia.

'The thing that is important for that service is some of the work in Auckland such as the third main [line] which we are still waiting to hear on. That would enable those trains from Hamilton to get further into Auckland, faster, and that's where some of the slow point is.'

That work is under development, said Hamilton City Councillor Dave Macpherson, though, it's taken some prodding.

This month, council became concerned plans for Puhinui Station didn't enable the Auckland to Hamilton service to connect.

A third track is needed to allow Hamilton trains to pull in without disrupting Auckland trains.

Macpherson voiced those concerns to Twyford and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta at the launch of the Hamilton-Auckland Corridor initiative.

'Phil Twyford told the whole meeting his office was on to it and would try to make sure the design of Puhinui and the construction included the ability for Waikato trains to get in there,' Macpherson said.

'We know Auckland Transport have certainly got that message. They were at that meeting.'