ARC cautions public: safety first with more trains on tracks

The ARC is cautioning Aucklanders to be aware of the increase in train frequency on tracks, with the new Britomart rail timetable commencing on June 9th.

The new timetable includes the first of the gradual changes and improvements to rail services aimed at increasing the frequency of services and providing some additional capacity. Immediate improvements include trains running later into the evening, additional morning, afternoon and evening services to Pukekohe and earlier trains on the eastern line.

ARC Passenger Transport Chairwoman, Catherine Harland, is urging people to be aware of the increase in services and not to be complacent around tracks and stations in the CBD and out in the communities.

“This is the first in a staged programme of new train services – real progress and real action,” says Cr. Harland.

“Aucklanders have asked for rapid transit and now we’re delivering it, but people need to be take note of the increased need for safety precautions. There will be more trains operating at different times than what people may be used to.

"Following on from the first train into Britomart station in July, more changes and more services will be introduced over the coming year, assuming funding increases proposed in the ARC's 2003/04 Annual Plan are confirmed. This means that the region’s train tracks are only going to get busier."

The ARC is reminding all passengers, as well as people who live near train tracks that it is illegal to walk along or cross the tracks other than at level crossings and pedestrian crossings. Trespassers in the rail corridor face a fine of up to $20,000 or six months in jail.

From early July, rail services will travel directly to and from the Britomart Transport Centre, returning train travellers to the bottom of Queen St. Also in July two additional services will leave from Papakura in the morning peak and two additional services in the afternoon from Newmarket.

Within six months of the commencement of services to and from Britomart, the timetable will also include a 10-minute peak frequency between Papakura and the CBD, evening services to 11pm, and Sunday services. The ARC is also working to deliver additional peak services from New Lynn to the CBD.

The new full timetable is available at http:// http://www.rideline.co.nz and timetable brochures will be available on the trains from late May. For questions and discussion, visit the Britomart Transport Centre Forum on the Rideline website.

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