Western Line, Auckland

The Western Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to suburban services that operate between Britomart and Waitakere via Newmarket.

Routing

From Britomart to Newmarket, the line uses the Auckland - Newmarket Line, then follows the North Auckland Line to Waitakere, the current northern most station on the network. Trial commuter services from Helensville will commence in July 2008."West Rail Needs Passengers", "Western Leader", 1 November 2007.]

History

By the early 20th century, an intensive suburban service ran between Auckland and Henderson, with some trains progressing to Waitakere and Helensville. When the mixed trains were withdrawn, Helensville became New Zealand's northern passenger terminus with a daily service to Auckland. However, in February 1980, the Minister of Railways, Colin McLachlan, announced it would be cancelled due to a lack of rolling stock."Rails" magazine, March 1980, 15-16] On 18 August 1980, a new timetable was implemented - it eliminated the Helensville service and Croydon Road, St Georges Street, and Westbrook stations were closed to suburban traffic on a trial basis."Rails" magazine, September 1980, p.14] Commuter trains nowadays terminate at Waitakere, Swanson, or Henderson, and with traffic volumes increasing, the line is progressively being upgraded.

Since the early 1990s, Auckland's commuter services have been revitalised. The ADK and ADL classes of diesel multiple units (DMUs) were purchased in 1993 to replace locomotive-hauled carriage trains. In 1997, as the DMUs stimulated increased patronage, work was undertaken by the Auckland Regional Council to extend platforms so that longer trains could be accommodated. [http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/auckland-region/transport/rail-project/background.cfm Auckland Regional Council: Rail Project Background] ] So that more frequent services could be run, construction began on 9 April 2004 to double track the line between Mount Eden and Morningside. [http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/index.cfm?BCCABA94-BCD4-1A24-9CE7-858A787F4A66 Auckland Regional Council Press Release, 2 April 2004: The Prime Minister Launches Western Rail Line Construction] ] When this new track entered service, a new timetable was introduced on 14 February 2005 with more frequent trains between Britomart and Waitakere, particularly during peak periods. This timetable also introduced short run services between Britomart and New Lynn. [http://www.arta.co.nz/arc/index.cfm?2FB888C6-BCD4-1A24-961E-755E10DD6F0A ARTA Rail Newsletter - Issue 16] ] This was followed by the opening of a new double platform Kingsland station on 21 May 2005, replacing the old single platform station. Further patronage growth meant that on 25 October 2005, another new timetable was implemented and it featured the re-introduction of features that had been absent for many years, including express services from Waitakere to Britomart on weekdays and Sunday trains between Britomart and New Lynn. The weekday service frequency to Swanson was cut to 37 minutes, but this meant trains to Waitakere ran only every 74 minutes. [http://www.arta.co.nz/arc/index.cfm?57D079E9-BCD4-1A24-91A3-A204F0919E54 ARTA Rail Newsletter - Issue 21] ]

In May 2005, work began to prepare the rail corridor between New Lynn and Henderson for double tracking [http://www.arta.co.nz/arc/index.cfm?565DC5F2-BCD4-1A24-9C8D-9C68FAF3950C ARTA Rail Newsletter - Issue 17] ] and construction of the double track commenced on 31 December 2005. [http://www.arta.co.nz/arc/index.cfm?5064AE7D-BCD4-1A24-92CB-AC5C2D6F234A ARTA Rail Newsletter - Issue 23] ] On 19 December 2006, the central government approved a NZ$120 million package for double trackage in the other direction from New Lynn to Avondale; this will include a 1 km long, 8 m deep trench through the centre of New Lynn and construction will begin in 2009.The New Zealand Herald: [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10416196 - Rail trench saviour for New Lynn shopping centre December 19] ]

Beyond Waitakere, services between Auckland and Helensville will resume in July 2008 on a trial basis, with a minimum of forty passengers daily required for the train to be permanently reinstated.

ervices

Suburban services are operated by Veolia under the MAXX brand.

ee also

* Public transport in Auckland
* List of Auckland railway stations

References