‘There One Day, Gone The Next’: Vandalised Train Displays Cost Ratepayers Thousands

Wednesday, 17 July 2024, 7:43 pm
Article: Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter

An Auckland commuter is frustrated at not knowing when the next train will arrive, after vandals hit the electronic display board at Glen Eden station twice in two days.

West Aucklander Kevin O'Carroll said the display board has been missing from the train station for more than four months.

An electronic display board provides passengers with real-time information about train schedules, routes, delays, and other important information.

"It was there one day, gone the next," O'Carroll said.

"It reappeared again after a few days, but it hasn't been back since."

Auckland Transport contract manager - field services Tony Chen said the Glen Eden electronic board was vandalised on March 6, costing $3875.

Two days after it was replaced, the new display board was vandalised again - this time with more significant damages and a repair bill of $8619.

Vandals used a blunt instrument to damage the display boards, causing direct impact to the electronic screen, he said.

Chen said they were waiting on a work permit before work could begin to replace it for a third time, hopefully by the end of July.

"Given the quick succession of incidents and the potential likelihood of further damage, we have launched an investigation to see what can be done to prevent this happening again," Chen said.

"This is the main reason for the reinstatement taking longer than normal."

O'Carroll said it was extremely frustrating having to wait for trains without any idea of when it would arrive.

"I use the train daily to get to work, and on the weekends too.

"When I get to the station, I like to have an idea of how long the wait will be, if I need to duck away to get coffee .. or if it's cancelled.

"Right now, we're all just standing there waiting, not knowing when the next train will arrive."

He said he was late to work earlier this month because there was no electronic display board to let commuters knows of delays.

"If the display had been there, I would have perhaps gone home and taken my car. I got to work 45 minutes later than expected."

Chen said the vandalism was incredibly frustrating and disappointing for AT.

"[It's] our customers, and Aucklanders in general, who ultimately foot the bill when our infrastructure is vandalised."

In the last three years, ratepayers have had to fork out $115,000 to cover the cost of vandalism to electronic displays across Auckland.

The highest cost was in 2023, with damages close to $80,000.

Chen said the display board at Glen Eden was the only one targeted by vandals so far this year.

"We will be fixing the issue as soon as the work permit is issued.

"In the meantime, we would advise customers to use the Live Departures feature on the AT Mobile app."

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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