Media release
20 March 2007

ARTA addresses Western Line commuters concerns

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) announced today that it will be putting in a number of measures in place for commuters who have experienced recent disruptions on western line rail services due to construction works on the rail corridor.

ARTA’s Chief Executive, Fergus Gammie, says, “For the month of April, monthly western line ticket holders will benefit from a $5 reduction in price on their City Monthly tickets and a $10 reduction in price on an All Zones Monthly ticket. On certain days daily complimentary tickets will be issued to western line passengers by onboard staff as a token of appreciation for their patience during these construction works. Planned cancellations of western line services with bus or taxi replacements will continue until the signalling system is stabilised. Buses will be on standby to be used if additional cancellations are required. MAXX ambassadors are now manning New Lynn, Fruitvale, Glen Eden, Sunnyvale and Waitakere stations from 6.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Friday until the end of April to provide up to date disruption information and assistance to western line customers where required.

“ARTA and its operator Veolia Transport Auckland regret the disruptions construction work on the line has had on services and hope that the actions we are taking will go some way towards compensating our western line customers”.

Mr Gammie says, “The disruptions have occurred as ONTRACK has progressed significant construction works to double track and upgrade the Western Line while ARTA and Veolia are endeavouring to maintain rail services on the line.

“ Much of Auckland’s rail network has been neglected for decades and the investment both by Central Government and the Auckland Regional Council, have made to correct this situation, is substantial and very welcome.

“However there is no doubt that undertaking construction work and running passenger services at the same time, as we are on the western line, has an element of pain before the gain. Although services on the western line had been designed to allow for the planned impact of the construction project, the higher than expected number of signalling failures, has led to increased disruptions for our passengers. The reasons for the damage to the signalling cable, which has caused the majority of the signal failures, have been examined in detail and ONTRACK is making every effort to maintain the system.

“We have listened to our customers, we know the issues they are facing and we are putting some actions in place to go some way to help mitigate service disruptions on the line.

“At the end of this work, in 2009, Auckland will have come a very long way towards having the rail network a city of this size should have. That is only a positive thing”, says Mr Gammie.

ENDS

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