Independent public transport, cycling and walking news & comment. Supporting all forms of moving towards a more environmentally sound NZ

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Waikato commuter rail service may use refurbished Strand

Tranzwatching rail in Auckland and the Waikato region

The proposal to operate a refurbished Silver Fern railcar as a commuter service between Hamilton and Auckland following a petition by almost 12,000 Waikato residents has run up against difficulties with using Britomart, Auckland's major rail terminus. Suggestion has been made that the service instead operate to the Strand, the platformed area of Auckland's former rail station, currently under-going a $1.2 million upgrade for emergency use during the World Rugby Cup. [no direct link available]

KiwiRail has previously estimated that using existing 96-seat Silver Fern cars, a one- round-trip a day service leaving Hamilton in the morning and returning early evening would cost $1.84 million a year. A two-round-trips service would cost $2.2 million and a three-round-trips service, $2.65 million. 

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