New Public Transport network consultation

It's been a bit quiet around here recently. However, Auckland Transport has just started consultation on the proposed new public transport network for South Auckland. The biggest change in the region is the removal of express buses from Papakura to the city (which currently take around 1 hour 20 minutes), and using buses to feed to the railway station instead - the same journey to the city on the current diesel trains takes around 50-55 minutes, which will decrease with the new electric trains. This will also allow more frequent feeder services, allowing passengers to "turn up and go" rather than plan around a timetable.

Auckland Transport has posted a media release on consultation at Mangere.

The way Aucklanders use public transport is about to change. Auckland Transport is moving to a simpler and more integrated public transport network for Auckland and the change is starting in the south.

In Mangere today, Mayor Len Brown officially launched public consultation on the New Network of buses and trains.

He says, “The changes we are proposing will transform Auckland’s bus network, starting in South Auckland, where the need for better transport services is greatest.

“The current fragmented set of bus routes will be replaced by a sensible network, with more buses at peak times and interchanges, so people can move around the city more easily.”
The New Network is a region wide public transport network which is proposed to deliver bus services at least every 15 minutes throughout the day, seven days a week on major routes between the hours of 7am to 7pm. Services will connect better with train services for those customers who require connections.
The New Network will be rolled out by Auckland Transport over the next three years starting with bus services in South Auckland in 2014/15.
Auckland Transport’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Edmonds says; “We are in a period of transformational transport change in Auckland.
“If Auckland is to cope with expected growth, public transport must become a very real transport choice for more of us. But we need to make bold changes to provide a better level of service, respond to public demand and provide better connections to the places people want to go.”
The consultation on the New Network comes as Auckland Transport is about to begin the roll-out of the AT HOP card to buses and the first of the city’s new trains are due to arrive in September for testing.
Auckland Transport is breaking up consultation and implementation for the New Network into several phases, consultation on South Auckland’s network began today in Mangere Town Centre.
In coming weeks, Auckland Transport will have people in the markets, shopping centres, transport hubs and on the streets in South Auckland talking to customers about these changes and getting their views. Brochures will be available in English, Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Korean, Hindi, Punjabi and Chinese.
The public will be invited to fill out feedback forms or go to Auckland Transport’s consultation webpage www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/newnetwork. Consultation is open until 2 August.
A video explaining the new network can be seen at: http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/new-network/Pages/default.aspx

Consultation on routes in other regions in Auckland, and to Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau and Port Waikato will follow at a later date.

Other, notable changes in this proposal include the closure of Westfield and Te Mahia railway stations due to low patronage.

All done (well, almost)

Papakura Station's long upgrade project is (almost) complete, with the last two tracks being commissioned over Easter weekend. All three upgraded platforms and the freight bypass track are now in use. Some very small details are yet to be completed, however.

Looking south from the island platform. These signals have an "E" light, which lights up when the track being signalled onto is electrified. If the light isn't on, electric trains cannot pass

Looking north from Platform 1, with the freight bypass on the far right

The gantry-mounted signal for trains departing Platform 1. This does not have an "E" light as all tracks it can signal onto will be electrified

The track layout north of the station. This layout allows a train to depart Platform 2/3 while another arrives at Platform 1, or arrive at Platform 1/2 while another departs Platform 3

A train passing over the new track

The island platform and new bypass track

Track layout south of the station, with the line to Pukekohe behind the camera. Here, all platform tracks converge into one, which only allows one (passenger) train to arrive or depart to/from Pukekohe

An example of unfinished detail: handrails for the stairs to Platform 1/2 need to be extended as the platform surface was lowered slightly for drainage

Pre-Easter shutdown

With Easter approaching, preparatory works have almost finished, with as much track as possible laid and ballasted. Very little actually needs to be done over the weekend.

New tracks laid through the station. Since this photo was taken much of the track has been ballasted

Track at the north end ready to be connected

The tamper group parked up

From what I can tell, all that needs doing over the long weekend is to connect the track and move the ticket machine back to its original location, and possibly some minor touchups - and then the upgrade is complete.

Before and after photos will be posted next week.

Ballast and sealing - nearly there

With ballast being laid on the last two track to be installed and the remainder of the platform being resealed, the upgrade project is fast approaching completion, with a deadline of Easter.

Ballast on the two new tracks (formally the Up Main, left, and Down Main, right) - only the Up Main has a platform attached

A digger spreads ballast on the Up Main. The diggers move much faster on rail

Two new signals in the foreground, with an unfinished signal in the background. These types of signals aren't very common, and Papakura has four of them, one at the south end of each platform. Briefly, these types of signals (with a single light on the top head) indicate that only medium speed is permitted

The shelter is still sans furniture, but has been resealed

The entire platform is now sealed, with tactile dots still to be installed

There is still some work to do at the north end of the new tracks, although it looks as though this work may be completed in time to lay track next weekend (Easter).

Track progress

Good progress is being made on the last two new tracks to be installed, with about half of the length of track laid.

The freight bypass track, left, and Platform 1's new track awaiting ballast and south end connections

As you can see there is still a bit of formation work to do around the north end

Some platform work is also happening

I think parts of the platform are being resealed

Track laying

We're finally seeing the last of the track laying work under way, with Platform 1's new track appearing recently.

Looking south. Hopefully the kink at the end of the new track isn't permanent

A digger hard at work laying new sleepers

Over at the shelter, seating is being removed, although I'm not sure why

Bigger kink

South of Platform 2, a big kink has appeared in the temporary track, signalling (pun not intended) that the final layout is almost here.

That's quite a sharp corner...

This view from the footbridge shows the kink more clearly, as well as where the track will eventually run

North of the platform, there is some way to go before the formation is ready for track

And some idiot has decided that fencing off the tag posts was a good idea. There is only one other tag post on the platform by the lift, and about 4-5 on Platform 3

Ballast work

The crew have started laying ballast on the formation, at the south end of Platform 1. With Easter rapidly approaching, surely we must be going to see the last of the track laying soon.

Ballast laying to the south

Work also continues on the carpark

Formation update and sketching plans

Formation work is progressing well, with the ground looking almost ready for some ballast.

At the north, drains are still being installed

Drains are also still being installed at the south end of the platform

South of the platform, the formations look almost finished

Seats and other station furnishings have appeared

Some more work has finally been done on the carpark, with a footpath appearing behind the station building

I was also lucky enough to be sent some staging (planning) diagrams by project manager Aiman Grace, who has given me permission to post them here.

The final track layout, both on its own and overlaid on the old layout

Stages 1 and 2: installing additional crossovers and cutting back the east loop

Stage 3: removing the old yard and signalling commissioning

Stage 4: Platform 3/4 construction

Stage 5: Platform 2 constrction

Stage 6: Mainline construction and finalisation works

Formation works

Formation works on Platform 1 are now in full swing, with the ground being dug out for ballast.

Overview from Clevedon Road

The platform just about looks finished with tactile dots installed, although some asphalt is still missing

Digging hasn't quite reached the north end of the platform

Minor updates

A few quick photo updates from today:

A new station entrance sign has been installed (probably some time ago). The old one made reference to the three platforms and had MAXX branding

The end of Platforms 1 and 2 have been tidied up and now feature stairs onto the trackbed

Formation works continue, with a trench now having been dug

The new runaway siding from Platform 4

A trip down Memory Line

Some people (especially those who have been around longer than I have) may remember what Papakura station used to look like way back in 1991, when the current diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains were still in service in Perth (just), and when ordinary freight locomotives were hauling plain red carriages*.

While browsing the Campaign for Better Transport Forums, I noticed user AKL_Train_Driver had posted some old videos from back in the day, including this gem from Papakura:

The station has been virtually obliterated and rebuilt since then: Platform 3 still has the old shelter, the old footbridge was still around (the current one opened in 2007), the bus depot still stands, Clevedon Road still had the old two-lane bridge and Noel Leeming etc. were still years away from development. It's interesting to see how the station has changed in a little over 20 years.

*Although similar trains do run today, these are vastly improved over the old trains, using carriages extensively rebuilt for suburban service instead of using the nearest available carriage, and with controls at both ends of the train instead of having to turn the locomotive (which was the nearest available freight locomotive).

Platform sealing

Sealing has begun on the new section of Platform 1.

The shelter is almost complete, while sealing work goes on around it

Serious work is also happening with the new formation

Finished mast bases between Platforms 2 and 3. It may be some time before masts are installed as the concrete needs to "cure" first before weight can be placed on it

A diesel train stands by part of the infrastructure that will allow its eventual withdrawl