Comments on: Where The Wire Things Are: Blogging From Wellington’s Electric Trains

By: Nigel Parry

Nigel Parry — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:04:56 +0000

Hi, Nigel from KiwiRail here.

Although there has been a fall off in Wellington passenger numbers, there are a number of reasons for this and the picture is not as ‘grim’ as described (the reports were very selective and not a true reflection of the whole picture).

We have seen a drop in passenger numbers and some of this is down to bus replacements and disruptions. It is not possible to run every scheduled service and still carry out the current upgrades, so there are frequent bus replacements during evenings and weekends.

Upgrades have also affected some of the services we do run, for example slowing down trains through work sites can cause a delay of a few minutes.

The September figure may have been chosen as it was high, other months have been much less (and in one month an increase).

Another explanation is that, just over a year ago, there was a big jump in the price of petrol. TranzMetro saw a jump in passenger numbers at that time. The numbers carried now are similar to those carried before the petrol price hike.

We know things need to improve, and we are working hard in Wellington to achieve that. It will inevitably take some time as the programme continues.

By: Steve W

Steve W — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:48:01 +0000

Hope you have lots of fun in Welly Jon, don’t forget the SE set with the EO electric locos is a must.

Make the effort to see the good work of the Rimutaka Incline Railway (Maymorn way) and have a look at the excellent website which I believe was created by Hugh

http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/

By: Jeremy Harris

Jeremy Harris — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:07:53 +0000

For me I view it as the PT equavilent of road works, a roads capacity goes down and people will use other modes or roads while the works are on but after the road is fixed, greater traffic than before..!

Wellington’s train network is undergoing road works..!

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say we might have 30 million passengers per year between the networks by 2015 – 2016…

By: Jon C

Jon C — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:29:12 +0000

Grant, good point. Thanks for the clarification.

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:05:12 +0000

Just one small point.the 8.5% dcline is over Setmber last yearcompaed t Septembe this year, not Septmbr comared to August. And that deline needs to be considered against svera other factors. Firstly, bus patronage in Wellington area is also down aroun the same amount…as point nicely overlooke by the media. And, that puts it back a about the level of September 2007. Who can reall petrol prices in the closig half of last year. Petrol down, PT use down!
The on time stats also need to be kept in perspective. Yes they are poor, but there a bus replacements on all lines 5 nights a week, and at least one line each weekend. And ever weekday on the Kapiti line off peak while the McKays to Waikane project is happeing. And at least one weekend every month ALL lines both days. Its getting around to 8% of services every week are transhipping somewhere. So that is on time performance shot down to 92, before you even start.

By: Diego

Diego — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:48:09 +0000

You are welcome Jon…yes I also think Hamilton to AKL and vv should have a system similar to our Wairarapa services. Cross your fingers ( I am) hoping to see it one day.

By: Jon C

Jon C — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:18:44 +0000

Diego, thanks for your comments. The Wairarapa service sounds wonderful – it is what we had hoped the Waikato service would have been like.

By: James

James — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:55:39 +0000

Its a shame that lack of investment has brought the appearance of a once great system to its current state.

@Hugh McCracken – very good to hear that the upcoming investment is going to make such improvements. We’re interested to see how the overhead wiring looks – we don’t have any in Auckland.

@Jon C – Nice photo showing the queues on the motorway beside a train travelling un-impeded and electric-powered!

By: Diego

Diego — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:54:08 +0000

Dear Jon. Firstly congratulations on your page, is excellent, it offers a lot of information and great stories. However, as an ex Aucklander myself, I ahve to agree with Hugh’s comment. WLG train services are years ahead of AKL’s ones. I do appreciate some of our services are running not to standards, but in general I think we are getting there. Especially on the new Wairarapa Services, the ex BR Mark 2 carriages are very comfortable, well designed and clean. Keep the blog up, is a pleasure to read it. Diego.

By: Jeremy Harris

Jeremy Harris — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:10:53 +0000

I think Wellingtonians will return when the upgrades are complete, they’ll have an excellent system (better once again than Auckland’s, even after our electrification) once again shame on the last Labour government, this should have happened early in their 9 years…

I would like to see the platforms at Wellington Central upgraded too…

Part of the problem I think is Wellingtonians are used to a good service and now the system is falling apart a bit they give up easily, Aucklanders expect our trains to break down..!

By: Jon C

Jon C — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:52:33 +0000

Gosh, only been in town a few hours and already the hostile natives are turning on me. LOL Hugh.

By: Hugh McCracken

Hugh McCracken — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:26:04 +0000

No, no, no, I cannot put up with that sort of spin – the significant investment is about to revolutionise rail passenger services in Wellington. The dawn of a new era, so to speak.

Most of the photos in your blog could, and should have positive captions – the lead photo shows a stack of overhead structures that have gone in over recent months. Key infrastructure in the shape of new turnouts and third main track formation has gone in, which can be viewed from exactly the same spot.

I’m very tempted to rewrite the article and put the positive side of recent improvements – hey, we’re leap years ahead of Auckland in terms of a “sustainable city”…

Go the train!
@muzza299