News release For immediate release
12 March 2007

Bus Replacement in Place Until Signalling Reliability Resolved on The Western Line

Auckland passenger rail operator, Veolia Transport, reports delays this morning to Western line rail services today due to a failure in the Centralised Traffic Control System, operated by ONTRACK.

An undiagnosed fault has been causing ongoing intermittent failures in the Centralised Traffic Control System despite the efforts of ONTRACK staff to isolate the problem. The result of this was that the Western Line reverted to manual operation, creating significant delays.

When a CTC failure occurs, all signals revert to STOP to ensure the safety of all vehicles in the area. This means that drivers must stop, contact train control, and then instruct an onboard staff member to “hand-wind” points. This allows services to progress through all stations on the line although at a reduced speed.

Due to this intermittent fault on the Western Line and in an effort to offer our customers some certainty, Veolia Transport will commence a program of planned cancellations in order to minimize delays and ensure service provision for customers. This will be continued until Veolia is confident that the intermittent problems are resolved. As a result, the following Western line services will be cancelled and replaced by buses or taxi vans from mid-day 12 March 2007 until further notice:

5.50 AM Britomart – Waitakere service will be cancelled. Passengers are to travel on the 6.00 AM service to New Lynn then transfer at New Lynn to a replacement taxi van service to Waitakere;

6.26 AM Britomart – Waitakere service will be cancelled. Passengers are to travel on the 6.37 AM service to New Lynn then transfer at New Lynn to a replacement taxi van service to Waitakere;

3.48 PM Britomart – Waitakere service will be cancelled between New Lynn and Waitakere. Passengers are to board a replacement bus service at New Lynn;

4.15 PM Waitakere – Britomart service will be cancelled between Waitakere and New Lynn. Passengers are to board a replacement bus service and will join the 5.20 PM service from New Lynn to Britomart;

4.52 PM Waitakere – Britomart service will be cancelled between Waitakere and New Lynn. Passengers are to board a replacement bus service and will join the 6.00 PM service from New Lynn to Britomart;

5.10 PM New Lynn – Britomart service will be cancelled. Passengers are to travel on the 5.20 PM service from New Lynn to Britomart;

6.31 PM Britomart – Swanson service will be cancelled between New Lynn and Swanson. Passengers will transfer to a replacement bus service at New Lynn; and

7.41 PM Swanson – Britomart service will be cancelled between Swanson and New Lynn. Passengers are to board replacement taxi van service and will join the 8.40 PM service from New Lynn.

This information will be communicated to passengers through the Text Messaging System, MAXX Website and updated information will be available on the Western Train Service Information line on 969 7704.

Passengers wishing to make alternative travel arrangements are encouraged to contact MAXX on 366 6400 or www.maxx.co.nz.

ONTRACK and Veolia Transport regret the delays that the fault has caused commuters. Every attempt will be made to minimize disruption to passengers until such time as the problem is rectified.

Passenger rail services are contracted and funded by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) and operated by Veolia Transport Limited.

ENDS

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