Comments on: Rail services – post CBD tunnel

By: rtc

rtc — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:39:17 +0000

I would still see the advantage of some Western lines continuing South directly via Newmarket and thereby bypassing the CBD all together. Would benefit those not working in the CBD and shave a bit of time off an Avondale to Ellerslie trip for example.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:03:04 +0000

I see having the services turn around on themselves through the loop and head back the way they came as a pretty massive lost opportunity. Only 12% of the Auckland region’s jobs are in the CBD, so we need to make the rail system useful for more people than simply those living in the CBD. That means that it needs to work for those travelling from Avondale to Ellerslie, or vice-versa. I think linking the lines up achieves that.

By: Nick R

Nick R — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:30:35 +0000

The last image is the obvious choice in my opinion, something I came up with myself years ago when I first read the URS tunnel report.
I think a lot of people (such as Johnston on bettertransport) are expecting something like the second image, except where all four lines go around some kind of loop…. wasteful and awkward if you ask me.

The most recent study by ARTA supported completing the full airport link to Auckland and Manukau and the line between Avondale and Onehunga at the same time. If this was done then it could simply be the case of adding a third line looping around the ithsmus and through the tunnel also. This would also have the benefit of having every track on the ithsmus carry two lines, so with a ten minute frequency you’d have five minute frequencies on the doubled sections (and most of the southern line)… not to mention a train every 3-4 minutes through the CBD tunnel. This would also be about the limit of the tunnel’s capacity, so you would have an efficient and cost effective metropolitan rail system.