A bunch of people travelling from Upper Hutt to Wellington by train yesterday almost missed the replacement bus because TranzMetro thought that a tiny poster beside the train timetable was enough to alert us to the fact that the trains weren’t running. Nobody got off the bus to check there was nobody on the platform, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of people were left wondering why the trains never came.
I totally understand that the train lines need to be closed from time to time for maintenance and upgrading. I think they’re doing a good job, but why not put big signs on the platform to alert travellers that buses are replacing trains? In this instance it seems TranzMetro were more concerned about sticking with their corporate branding (the poster looked just like all their advertising posters) than communicating effectively with their customers.
It did prompt a bit of discussion about what sort of changes people would like to see to our local rail services. I’ve talked about this with a number of people in recent weeks and here are some of the things on their wish lists:
- WiFi on all train services so that people can work/play on the train (even if there was a small cost involved)
- Decent coffee carts on train platforms during peak hours, or on the trains themselves
- Slightly more room between each seat so that people can work on laptops or read the paper without bashing the head of the person in front
- More room for bikes (currently only 2 allowed per train)
- Electronic signs on the platforms saying when the next service is due
- Step-free access from platforms to make it easier for those with pushchairs/wheelchairs
- More enclosed shelters on the station platforms
- Integrated/electronic ticketing (like the Snapper cards)
- More carparks at some stations
- More frequent services / more express services during peak hours
Some of these things are coming when the new train units arrive later this year (eg. step-free access, more bike space), while others could actually prove revenue-generating opportunities (eg. user-pays WiFi or coffee carts). Others (integrated ticketing) could save money. I know the Regional Council are working on some of this stuff, but I reckon they could pick up the pace a bit. If we want more people using public transport we should be doing more to make it an attractive/convenient option.
I think the major improvement I would like to see is trains being on time. Even Tranzmetro note that they are failing at this -> http://www.tranzmetro.co.nz/Detail.aspx?ID=2efa2937-385e-4921-b6f7-34b40b6dbead
While wireless would be nice to have, I think it would only be a very few people who use it. I have only seen one or two people use a laptop on the train, and I’ve been catching it for just over a year.
Electronic ticketing would be interesting, but unlike the buses, there is no one to check that you have swiped on. I don’t think Tranzmetro would trust people enough, so I doubt it would happen.
I would think it would be better to see:
1.) a better integrated system between buses and trains. A workmate has to catch a bus after catching a train to get home, and he constantly complains that if the train is 5 minutes late the bus will have left. Its a 30 minute wait for the next bus.
2.) Improve stations. My station (Naenae) was recently described in the Hutt News as a dump. That’s not right – it’s more like a urinal. There is a complete lack of seating which has not been urinated on. Most of the station is left exposed. It feels dangerous, particularly at night. I would prefer to pay $80 to a get a taxi home after a late night out than catch a train to Naenae station.
3.) More information. Tranzmetro are trying, but they aren’t that good at communicating still.
4.) Trains that weren’t taken from museum displays. Sure, this is being fixed, but there will still be a lot of older trains.
5.) Get rid of Kaiwharawhara and Ngaraunga stations. They slow the journey to the Hutt and nobody uses them. Those that do could catch a bus.
6.) Better seats. Not just more room (although very needed, I’m 5′10″ and have trouble in them), but better cushions and more delination between each seat (I hate having someone sit right up next to me).
7.) Cheaper fares. Increase the subsidy!
8.) Restore the old side-rail lines so that trains can take over each other.
I hope some of that gets through to someone who can do something about it!
I have wondered why integrated ticketing is not higher on the agenda for Wellington.
I think one thing that should be done is to have 4 tracks between at least Taita and Petone, so that express trains don’t have to go behind all stops trains and can just go past them, and upgrade staions where express trains do stop such as Waterloo and Petone to four platform stations. According to a document I read (can’t remember where) thats the best way to improve journey times. If the top speed was increased it wouldn’t make much difference because the trains would still have to wait behind all stops trains.
When you buy a train set for twice it’s value you don’t have much money left over to invest in upgrades. If it had been bought at a realistic market price we could have had all the upgrades one could wish for.
Better integration with buses is a must.
Adding extra car parks is very expensive, so a much better idea would be making short bus journeys that meet trains free. This would free up car parks for those who live further away from bus routes.
The way to fix this bus-rail integration is with integrated ticketing. This is not just e-tickets like Snapper, but means standardising bus and fare zones. It shouldnt matter what mode you take to get from A – B, or if it takes 1 journey or 3. It should cost the same whatever.
The Public Transport Management Act that was passed late in the Labours govt time, gave councils the power to do more of this. However this act is under serous threat from Joyce, so please fight hard to keep the act, and spread the word as to what the changes could mean.
GWRC doesn’t seem to be to interested in integrated ticketing just yet. I hope developments in Auckland and Christchurch will change the mind of Wellington decision makers. But the PTMA will be very important to the future of councils powers to efficiently run an integrated transport system.
Train guards can carry a device that scans people on and they scan off the train when they get off. Otherwise they can also use barriers at major stations. Whatever happens with ticketing, the paper based ticketing system needs to be overhauled to bring the service into the 21st century.
Mobile phone reception in Tawa1 and Tawa2 tunnels, as well as the Wairarapa tunnel will give access to unlimited phone reception along the railway lines. This will also allow mobile phone internet and mobile calls
Good to see you are using Public Transport Chris!
This is the info from TranzMetro this afternoon
Sun, 4:21pm
The 1630 between Johnsonville and Wellington is cancelled due to Operational reasons.
Sun, 4:20pm
The 1602 between Wellington and Johnsonville is cancelled due to Operational reasons.
Sun, 3:34pm
Services are running up to 15 minutes late on the Upper Hutt line between Wellington and Waterloo due to Operational reasons. Normal services resume in 30 minutes.
Sun, 3:33pm
The 1530 between Johnsonville and Wellington is cancelled due to Operational reasons.
Sun, 3:33pm
The 1502 between Wellington and Johnsonville is cancelled due to Operational reasons.
Nice to know they a give a minutes notice the trains arent running
“When you buy a train set for twice it’s value you don’t have much money left over to invest in upgrades. If it had been bought at a realistic market price we could have had all the upgrades one could wish for”
Given the previous owners wanted to just shut the whole network down, we really had no choice.
“If we want more people using public transport we should be doing more to make it an attractive/convenient option.” – exactly.
PT will not be attractive and convenient enough for the huge majority of people until there is significant investment in creating and maintaining a comprehensive system that meets their needs.
Here in Dunedin the ORC is not prepared to invest in a system that meets these needs until they determine that there is enough demand. Problem is that they largely determine this by looking at usage of existing services – thus missing the real demand for a comprehensive PT system. People (including myself) will not use PT as a primary form of transport until a comprehensive system is in place. Govt and councils need to invest in the PT systems now!
BTW – Wish we had passengers trains in Dunedin – I’d love to have a wishlist that included wireless internet and gripes that the coffee wasn’t decent enough!
At least at Naenae you have a shelter. At Epuni, they’re called Shelters, but they do not provide shelter from wind and/or rain.
I say resist the demolition of the Naenae station by Tranz Rail and the GWRC!
I walk an extra 10mins to Wingate. I refuse to go through that subway even if Naenae is only 12mins walk away. No trains today and no buses came to met us.
“When you buy a train set for twice it’s value you don’t have much money left over to invest in upgrades. If it had been bought at a realistic market price we could have had all the upgrades one could wish for”
Given the previous owners wanted to just shut the whole network down, we really had no choice.
How about calling their bluff. For that what is was. A mere bluff. You guys blinked.
Toll Holdings of Australia and their shareholders daily and mockingly sing the praises of their saviour, Michael Cullen the great NZ negotiator.
Fisiani , how much is Air NZ worth. Labour bought that or they would have closed it down.
But since KiwiRail ( which includes the truck freight business, the rail business, the engineering business, the Interislander business) isnt listed on the stock exchange we dont know what the share market values the company as.
As for your figure (Made by people who have no track record of getting anything right), a lot of companies are trading at less then their real worth in the recession.
Deleted Trevor wifi and other luxuries. Just turning up, and on time, would be nice!!
I think this post tempted fate! I was stuck for over an hour on the train that damaged the overhead lines this morning. Always fun to see sparks coming from the metal above. Just to top it off, my train home stopped for 10mins – about 100m from where the morning train stopped.
In terms of trains replacing buses, that happens all the time off peak at night and at weekends. They communicate to regular commuters about this through free text alerts and flyers at the Wgtn station. But those who might pop down the train station and are not regular commuters do have to be quite observant about the signs.
Sure wifi would be nice, like the airport flyer bus, – particularly when stuck on train for one hour plus – but getting from A to B on time should be priority for the trains. Wifi would be more of an issue for Masterton and Palmerston Nth trains where people are on them for longer and they set up more for people to work. Coffee carts are not important either. Some of the big stations, like Waterloo, Petone and Taita are right by coffee outlets. If it is profitable – private operators could set up. When I used to catch the train from Melling – one would set up in the car park there sometimes. Not sure if it did that much business.
The two things that are more important, and can be progressed before the new trains arrive, are station quality and electronic up to date arrival info at stations. I went ot chch years ago and they had it – even Auckland has it now- but Wellington, where public transport use is more prevalent, it is not.
The Hutt News suggested the other week that the Naenae might be demolished. Apparently for safety reasons. To me the main reason it is not safe is the big self storage shed, whih blocks visiabiliy to the station platform. Probably Tranzmetro or the council receive rent for it or sold it off. Geographically demolishing the station would make no sense, and there are quite a few commuters in Naenae.
Woburn would be a good model for an upgrade at Naenae – not Epuni. The Epuni station’s new shelters are a joke. Umbrellas blowing inside out provide more shelter. Taita should be high up the list to be upgraded as well.
The real problem with naenae is the old railway land was sold off, and became a storage business. This totally blocked the station off from the surrounding area. If the land ever came up for sale/lease maybe worth getting at least a little part of the land back to get better linkages to the surrounding town centre. The rest of the land could then be sold back for more station user friendly uses.
When trains are replaced by buses as they were yesterday – they don’t put signs up saying trains are replaced by buses (this only occurs when this planned in advance – evenings and weeekends they are doing track work).
On these occasions, when one is waiting at a destination stop, one has to know where the rail replacement buses stop to let off passengers – that’s where you get on these buses (in the evenings and weekends there are train staff who will collect passengers to the bus, but often late replacemernt buses have no train staff and they only pick up passengers within contact at the drop off point).
Thank goodness that the storage business was built AFTER I finished school. We could still cross the tracks which was safer. I hate that subway. I have known a few people to be mugged in there. One in the middle of the day! I think that they have cameras in their now?
Not so much speed as relability is what I want. That I can go to the station, knowing that the train will arrive on the advertised time + or – a minute, and get me into Wellington (or back) as indicated by the timetable.
Sounds like it all went to custard yesterday. I’ve been stuck on the trains before when they have broken down but it does seem to be getting worse. I’m getting a pretty strong message from the comments above that reliability is one of the most important priorities! I’ll be meeting with KiwiRail again soon, will keep you posted on the outcome.
Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn’t be telling everyone that I used to cross the tracks. It is illegal. No hole in the fence anymore though.
Yes that would be great if they actually arrived and arrived on time!
Great post and comments.
“While wireless would be nice to have, I think it would only be a very few people who use it.I have only seen one or two people use a laptop on the train”
… I think thats the kind of logic transmetro are using – er maybe that’s because there’s no wifi on trains? I was on a train yesterday and 4 people in the seats immediately around me had their laptops open even without wifi. As Chris says (like the coffee cart idea) an obvious revenue opprtunity missed
“The real problem with naenae is the old railway land was sold off, and became a storage business.”
Yep blocking the sight lines off making it a taggers/vandals paradise. Because of this kids were setting fire to the rubbish bins, so they took all the rubbish bins out, so we drop our rubbish on the ground, so they HIRE a guy to come round and pick our rubbish up…
If there is a traffic jam on the roads in and out of Wellington (which happens most days) does the DomPost have a lead article blaming the NZTA and interviewing angry drivers?
Kiwi rail seem to be promising that there is light at the end of the tunnel. They will be under huge political and media pressure to deliver on their promise of no mishaps after the Wellington work is complete. However I do feel sorry for Kiwi Rail as they are continually slammed and have little resources to deal with their problems.
The only way to fix the problems is through continued investment in the system. No point in writing rail off as it is (behind the bicycle) the ultimate form of transport.
Good to hear you are commenting on passenger rail Chris. But what has happened to the Labour Transport spokesperson who represents those commuters from Kapiti? I get the feeling hes not a fan of trains, but is only interested in pushing projects such as Transmission Gully. Maybe you could give him a nudge in the write direction.
If there is a traffic jam on the roads in and out of Wellington (which happens most days) does the DomPost have a lead article blaming the NZTA and interviewing angry drivers?
No, because even on the worst day it’s still only a 25-30 minute drive from J’Ville (at the top of the gorge) into Wellington.
The train however, even when there aren’t problems, is closer to 45 minutes.
That’s funny i used to cross through there too as a kid going to school. Wifi on the train would be nice, it would makes time go faster, but being on time is definitely priority number one.
I agree that wifi would be very cool, though does anyone else worry about all this radiation that we’re putting into our lives? Wifi is even being introduced into cars.
My company is currently working on a proposal to advertise on Tranz metro Trains intenally and externally. This will create a new source of income for KiwiRail and help to provide lower ticket prices and upgrades needed. Please express your views and ideas on this subject.