I went and had a look at the finished product of the New Lynn transport centre today. It’s now finished, and the final product is incredibly impressive. Here are a number of photos:This is at the eastern end of the railway station. I like how the station is very much the centrepiece of the area, and care has been taking to provide a good – but not overwhelming – amount of information.The photo above looks east along Totara Ave, towards the transport centre. One thing that was nice about the whole area is that it actually felt quite busy – even though I was visiting on a Saturday. There were buses buzzing all over the place, a decent number of people were waiting at most of the different stops – it felt lively. I must say I’m definitely a fan of the station’s design. It’s distinctive and bold, yet at the same time fits in well with the surrounding area. I imagine that over time the station will become an icon for New Lynn – which is fantastic. Even though it’s surrounded by roads – I generally think that seems to work, as all the intersections have lengthy pedestrian phases and it’s not too busy (though things might be different during rush hour).The main bus area is pleasant enough – and certainly more friendly to pedestrians that the old bus depot. There’s pretty decent shelter, good real-time information signs and plenty of room to handle a lot of buses.One thing in particular that I liked is that the real-time information signs display in both directions. It’s frustrating when you’re running to catch a bus waiting at a stop, only to find out when you get there that it’s not actually your bus (and you couldn’t tell because the sign was facing the other way).There’s a decent amount of bike parking in and around the station. Bikes and trains work well together, as bikes extend the catchment of the station. Let’s hope to see the bike stands absolutely packed within a year or two.Inside the station has been designed quite cleverly. I thought for a while that it seems strange there weren’t doors on the left side of this photo – giving fast access between the trains and buses. But then it occurred to me that across here is probably where the ticket gates will go in the future once we have integrated ticketing up and running.One of life’s great ironies is the number of train stations that Steven Joyce has opened. This is the Clark St entrance to the New Lynn station. It’s a really nice station from this angle too!

Overall, I must say I’m really impressed with how this has turned out. The big ticket items like the rail trench and the station have turned out really well – but also I’m impressed by the little things. The future-proofing for ticket gates, the information signs that can be viewed in both directions, the “barnes dance” pedestrian signalisation and so forth. It is a very impressive facility to see in Auckland.

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15 comments

  1. Are there any wall maps in the station? If I’m getting off a train at a station I’ve never visited before I like a map that shows me the exits, local streets, and the things I might want to walk to.

    Cool roof by the way. Is it not supported at one corner, or is that just a photographic (3rd photo) illusion?

  2. Just wondering if this station is getting Gates for Integrated ticketing? I know it should but read somewhere that it wasn’t on the list, please prove me wrong!

  3. One thing that struck me as odd when visiting last weekend was that there is no roof along a large part of the platform. Also the passenger shelters are only in the middle of the platform. Therefore if it is busy at rainy times people will end up bunching around the bottom of the elevators which would not be ideal.
    I know a full covering roof would not be appropriate because of fumes but I would be good to have a cover that protected people from the rail but still made the station open to the air.

  4. I note the plaque commemorating the opening is made of perspex rather than the usual stone – hardly durable. Saving money I suppose. But come back in 10 years or maybe even five and there’ll be nothing left of it.

  5. Great photos Jarbs, you couldn’t of pick a nicer day for it. I really need to get out and have a look (I have passed through the trench enough times). While it may be a bit of a sea of roads that does help it to stand out. I think that with the work that has gone into New Lynn it has become is one of those places that has a great future ahead of it and could really become quite a strong employment hub for the region.

    I really hope that this becomes an example of what can be done with a rail station in Auckland, our suburban stations are nice but this and Newmarket are in a class of their own and ARTA really need to be commended for getting some great architecture built. We need to build on this as it is the kind of thing that will get more and more people interested in using the train.

  6. Oh the irony of the ” Minister for Roads” opening all the rail stations.
    I must also say that it is a reasonably easy station to drive around and once the extra extension is built down by Cambridge Clothing it will be even better.
    It just needs the monies to be spent on sorting out the roundabout at Block House Bay Rd.

  7. @Obi, i agree there is a distict lack of network maps around Auckland’s rail stations, even in Britomart you really have to look for one. There needs to be a full RTN network map at every station which includes the northern busway.

    1. I think obi is referring to maps of the local area that would help someone who didn’t know where things were. In New Lynn for example it would be useful for people to know to get from the station to Lynnmall, Gt North Rd, the library, the community centre etc

  8. WOW that is really different to how it used to be. Do you have any photos of what it all used to look like? It looks quite similar to some bus stations in Wellington.

  9. Every station and major bus stop in Auckland should have a street map showing the surrounding square kilometre or two of the city, with any other stops, stations or major attractions labeled on it.

    This would have a minimal cost but would be so beneficial.

  10. What an inappropriate addition is the metal road ramp going in behind the new lynn community centre. Obviously models were lacking on this monster too (remember the monolithic footramp at glen eden rail station), and an altogether misperception of what constitutes a servicable town centre in limited space and the urgent carparking needed around that building.

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