It appears that Fairfax is have a big focus on rail this week with most of the local papers – except the ones on the shore – having articles about the system. We have:
Most contain a bit of information about electrification but the thing I found interesting was the vox pops that were done which highlight not only some of the issues we currently have, but some of the benefits. This is especially evident when all of the articles are compared together.
Many of the people spoken to point out how easy catching the train can be and how it can allow them to do other things on their journey like work, study or even just reading. A couple even point out how they have found the HOP card much better to use than the old system, something that hasn’t really come through in many of the media articles about it so far. Another notable theme seems to be people catching the train to avoid parking charges in the city.
The issues mentioned are nothing unexpected. The most common one seems to be the delays and disruptions caused by our already ancient train fleet which can be compounded by capacity issues at busy times. Other issues to get mentioned included the level of communication, especially when occur, some of the issues with HOP including one that really frustrates me which is the lack of tag posts at stations which can force long lines as people queue up to tag off and lastly parking at stations – the need for which will hopefully be reduced as the new bus network rolls out.
As mentioned our trains are fairly ancient and I get the impression that some are being held together by gaffer tape. As they continue to get older it seems they are struggling more and more to cope with the pressure being placed on them and this is one of the key reasons that our new electric trains can’t come soon enough. Not only will they be more reliable but have more capacity, be faster and quieter. They should also be a lot cheaper to run which means that we should be able to run more of them without having to increase how much we are spending on rail.
We are also rolling out the new bus network which should largely coincide with the introduction of the new trains as well as integrated fares which will remove the penalty for transferring between services. All of this combined really makes me feel that we are about to see the “sparks effect” happen in Auckland. For those that don’t know the sparks effect is something that has been observed in many cities around the world when systems (or lines) are upgraded and electrified.
One of the best examples is from Perth who electrified their lines in the late 80’s and early 90’s along with building a new line to Joondalup. What is noticeable is that during the electrification period patronage dropped off thanks in part to the disruptions the works caused. We are right in the thick of electrification works right with another network shut-down ahead of us this weekend but as the say goes – no pain, no gain. Of course the Perth example is relevant in so many ways, the level of patronage when the system was electrified is about the same and of course many of trains running around on our network today were the same ones that were being used in Perth before they electrified their system.
I excited for the future at being able to look back on this point in time (and earlier) to see just how far the system has come when the issues mentioned above will hopefully be a thing of the past.
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I don’t think Auckland’s “sparks effect” will be as significant as Perth’s, because in Perth’s case, electrification coincided with network expansion, modern trains and higher frequencies, from a very basic former system. Here in Auckland, we have already introduced modern trains (from an interior comfort point of view), ever increasing frequencies, and network expansion, on a more gradual basis. Our electrification will do more of that, but it’s a process already well advanced. I do think it will be significant, but probably less than half as significant as what electrification was to Perth.
Hopefully AT won’t compromise the effort by doing silly things such as continuing with 1990’s-era frequencies on weekends, no trains to Puke on weekends, no thought out connections between lines, etc. Such things should have been sorted when double tracking was complete, so will electrification be taken any more seriously? I hope they get right this time.
Given that the RPTP shows rail to Swanson and Papkura as RTN there will be 15 minute frequencies all weekend, hope Pukekohe doesn’t get ignored though.
My main issue is that the trains do not run late enough atm. Last train should be leaving around 11 at the earliest every day except possibly Sunday.
I agree that it won’t be as significant or as quick as Perth but I do think it will happen. I suspect that we will see patronage jump to around the 15m mark within a couple of years then increase a little more slowly to reach ~20m by the end of the decade. Also agree that for it to become a reality that issues like poor weekend and off peak frequencies will need to be addressed but that is planned as part of the RPTP.
I understand that in Auckland, a fundamental aspect to the business case is to get the farebox recovery up from the current 26.3 % to 40 – 45%. Put this way – I don’t think that electrification would have been given the go-ahead without this objective set in stone as it were. Is there comparable data for Perth on what the farebox recovery was before electrification, and after?
Really there should be two graphs to compare Auckland with Perth. One that compares patronage, the second that compares farebox recovery.
Link to previous post on this site by Matt L on farebox recovery as follows:
http://greaterakl.wpengine.com/2012/10/10/improving-our-farebox-recovery/
Matt Perth also built an underground link through the centre of the city. I agree we will see a jump change in patronage because of the improvements in frequency, reliability, and attractiveness of the service, along with other performance improvements to stations and processes. But until we have the CRL and the new Metro style running patterns that that allows, true fare integration, and the obvious extensions to Pukekohe, airport, and Mt Roskill, we are unlikely to get the full Perth phenomenon.
But if AT can deliver the planned changes well, especially the exciting new bus network, it will still be a real revolution for AK.
Patrick that underground link only happened in the 2000s along with the construction of the line to Mandurah which is what saw that second jump in Patronage. I think we will see a jump but not quite as quick as what happened in Perth up to around the 20-25m mark then another jump to ~45m within a couple of years of the CRL opening.
Agree.
Did anyone else notice that there wasn’t a single mention of the “rail loop”? Every single person quoted said “City Rail Link”, which makes me curious. It’s good that there are so many instances of it appearing in print, but I struggle to believe that nobody called it a loop without some prompting (or some journalistic licence).
With the new bus network linking to and relying on trains there will HAVE TO be later train services and on weekends. Currently bus services to many areas leave the city until very late in the evening, so if some buses will no longer come all the way to the cbd then rail will need to compensate and take up the slack.
I think there was a mention of a central rail link but impressed people are onto the reasons for the CRL
Why is there still no talk of single-person train operation to further reduce operating costs of the new trains, and increase the cost recovery ratio ? Surely this is an area AT and the government could agree on ? Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne have all had single-person train operation for decades, and there would be few metro-type systems in the US or Europe that require a 2-person crew. It is only the long-distance and US commuter rail that seem to have a 2-person crew.
Auckland has a lower reliance on operations staff than the places you mention. Don’t assume fewer train staff means less staff overall, as it doesn’t. The places you mentioned continued to have operations staff on the ground all over their networks long after Auckland automated or eliminated most staff requirements on its network.
No bikes on electric trains though. Stink.
No, bikes are specifically catered for in the middle carriage.
Think AT spent too much time trying to be all things to all people when fitting out the trains, missing the boat on longitudinal seating to create some sort of cluttered hybrid being one of the issues. Bikes – surely not at peak times? More bike facilities are good at stations but not on the train. Assume they will allow dogs and livestock too. All a bit third world for a modern mass transit system that needs to be clean and attractive, Who wants bike chain oil on their suit?
I wouldn’t think bikes at peak would be a good idea but off peak ok. Have bike lockers and a citibike scheme downtown, all linked to your HOP account via card or NFC device.
Agreed, bikes should be off peak only, except between stations right on the ends of a line.
Although Jeff, I must say that the trains need to be lots of things because they do lots of things. They need lots of seating for the poor sods that will ride to Pukekohe on them oneday, yet need capacity due to the volume of people who will be riding between inner city stations.
I see Perth don’t allow bikes at peak times.
An interesting thing with back to wall configuration is seat numbers are almost the same (2-4 lost max). The passengers from Pukekohe would all get a a nice seat with a view across the carriage to see potatoes,onions and cows and no one rides facing backwards. But the real advantage is when the train stops at a crowded station close to town; Panmure (post AMETI) or Newmarket where lots of people will be standing, the greater floor space means the flow of passengers is much better, benefiting those from Pukekohe too. Of course people at the end of the line always get a seat at some point on their journey.
.We should be thinking of the trains more in the way we think of elevators in buildings, rather than lounge rooms and let form follow function.
Manukau Courier as well.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/8777427/Train-travel-a-breeze-but-could-be-better