Comments on: Avoiding the end-change at Newmarket

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:51:09 +0000

Agreed, 2 min is not that bad.

By: Matt L

Matt L — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:04:08 +0000

I don’t mind the 2 mins either as its not to bad, I usually spend longer outside New Lynn or Britomart

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:47:59 +0000

I don’t mind the wait,
two minutes is nothing when there’s only one train per hour on the weekends.

By: Matt L

Matt L — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:51:24 +0000

James 2 mins about the quickest that it takes as the driver has to shut down and walk the platform, Remembering of course that the trains are generally longer now than they were a few years ago.

By: James Pole

James Pole — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:11:43 +0000

I’m in full agreement with your post. Bit disappointing that they haven’t implemented the shuttle/pilot driver idea, since it would have led to more people accepting the closure of Newmarket West. Not implementing that has pretty much fuelled the “Keep Newmarket West” campaign.

However I’m very suspicious of the claim that it takes 2-5mins. The old station had a “2-point turn” and I never saw it take anymore than 2-3mins at most — except when there was a conflicting movement. So I’m guessing the 5mins turn was mostly due to a conflicting movement forcing the train to be held rather than the end change itself. As you say the new station only requires one end change — rather than the two required in the old system.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:38:41 +0000

I’m sure it they can avoid the wait by planning, however it is a shame we don’t have maximum flexibilty.

By: Matt L

Matt L — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:04:04 +0000

I really like the look of the station but haven’t been inside yet, just passed through. If this is an indication of what New Lynn will look like (and grafton to a lesser extent) then we are starting to get some really nicely designed infrastructure being built, even the standard suburban station upgrades that have been done look quite nice and will only help to grow passenger numbers as we get more of them done (btw New Lynn is starting to get some of its finishing touches on it which look good and the rubber pads for tracks to sit on are starting to go down).

I think most of the issues at Newmarket itself could be fixed by amending the timetables so we don’t have so many services arriving at the same time as most of my trains have been around the 2 min mark for end changes. I think this may also be a case of the drivers and train staff trying to get it done faster as they are seeing the delays being caused by it i.e. this morning the TM went and unlocked the cab while the driver was changing ends so it was one less thing he had to do when he got there.

In saying all of this I have said a few times now that in a way I hope it stays the same with slight delays as it could be one of the single biggest boosts for building the CBD tunnel when it comes to the BCR stage, I just hope that the study team are also looking at this as part of their research.