Graffiti Is Ruining Our Shiny New Rail Works (Photos)
Posted by Jon C in DevelopmentDec 23rd, 2009 | 12 responsesWhat can we do about the graffiti curse that’s starting to appear all over our shiny new rail projects?
It can be covered over when new stations get built but what how do we stop those new platforms and stations from being attacked constantly? Kingsland’s development and the new Grafton’s retaining walls are constant targets, often by the same taggers:
I try to avoid showing it but it’s impossible to show the construction without getting the long trail of tagging in any of the pictures – and I won’t Photoshop images as I want to show the way it is.
CCTV cameras at the new platforms is worthwhile – if someone has time to wade through the footage to find the offender and they can be identified and found.
The Waitakere City Council got smart when the Henderson station was revamped and became part of the council’s headquarters:
I have never found any trace of graffiti in Henderson and apparently there never has been any because at night and weekends when taggers come out, their ears get assailed with classical or opera music playing loudly in the building and wafting onto the platforms:
But most stations have residents nearby who also may not appreciate Vivaldi or Wagner in the middle of the night!
Swanson’s historic station, featured earlier in the week, hoped bombers can read:
At Newmarket’s new station, they have already brought in the graffiti busters to prepare for the battle:
Indeed we all need to be watchful. It’s going to be dreadful if we spent millions only to see it defaced.
But as any Auckland rail traveller will be heard moaning, it’s an epidemic all along the tracks as you peer out the window, no matter what track you’re on. Is there anywhere where the problem’s as widespread as NZ and Auckland in particular?
Out the window on the Southern Line
12 Responses to “Graffiti Is Ruining Our Shiny New Rail Works (Photos)”
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The train is unfortunately an ideal spot from which to get a tag noticed.
I once travelled on the southern line south-bound to Ellerslie sat behind a group of young people peering intently out the window. They were claiming either to be or to know the person responsible for various markings along the way. And discussing the style/merits of them.
Plus at stations the environment is even more enticing with captive audiences waiting on platforms and on stopped trains.
I know from a neighbourhood support discussion on the issue that removing or covering marks as quickly as possible is important in discouraging future vandalism. The excitement of the act and recognition by peers seem to be the main motives.
Are the railway infrastructure items too big and resources too small to keep a consistent approach to covering most of it quickly? Motorways seem to have their exposed surfaces kept tidy.
Captive audiences on the web too. All one tagger has to do is google ‘auckland tagging trains’ and they’ll see pictures instantly of their work. Pass the query around in an e-mail and they have instant cred. I would be inclined not to post pictures of their work!! Motorways are far too busy/dangerous for the little idiots to work on. Rail corridors everywhere else in the world are nearly as bad as ours. If we want it to look tidier, we have to look at private property owners (like the commercial/industrial properties in Penrose, Southdown) to clean up the rears of their buildings. As for the stations, effective CCTV, efficient cleanup, and adequate guarding should be all it takes to keep a station tag-free.
The only parts of the network that aren’t tagged are those covered with plants.
For the large factory walls creepers could planted and they would grow to cover the entire wall in a few years, similar to what they have done with the wall next to the Henderson station.
I don’t understand why they don’t have a contract with Graffiti Solutions like NZTA have for their motorway system? Graffiti Solutions do routine checks of the motorway and if they spot graffiti it is cleaned up within 24hr, as per their contract.
Their contract is reviewed every 5 years where any other company has a chance to win, so the incentive is there to do a good job.
Why can’t ARTA do the same?
William M – getting buisnesses to clean up graffiti on their buildings would not be sensible, why should they be told what to do with their own property, plus it’s an expensive exercise for something they get no benefit from. So it would make more sense if ARTA or Kiwi Rail, the company in control of the rail system, whom actually reap the benefits to pay for it. E.g. NZTA pays for the Graffiti Removal on the whole motorway system.
Also on roading construction projects, the contractor’s contract requires them to remove all graffiti within 24hrs or as quickly as practicable, and is monitored by the NZTA to make sure the companies are meeting their contract obligations. This should also be rolled out on rail projects if not already in place.
@Joshua- The reason why ARTA can’t contract graffiti solutions is they wont have the fiunding to do it.
The only way to stop tagging/bombing is to remove it as others have suggested within 24 hrs maximum. I live next to a block of shops and I offered to remove it for the owner and he supplies the paint. It takes several months for them to get the message they are wasting their time and if there are new tags occasionally they are new kids on the block.
Railways world wide seem to pass peoples back yards and the majority of tags do seem to be on properties backing on to the railway. This is a community thing and people should clean up tags the same as they are expected to cut the council street berms.
Restricting the sale of spray cans would be a huge step in the right direction.
We are certainly not alone some of the European cities are worse than Auckland.
The issue with comparing road to rail is also one of access. Anyone can drive along and see a tag but access is restricted on the rail corridor
So if there were no trains nobody would vandalise the surrounding property because nobody would see it?
I blame the trains then!
Yes but Richard, you actually don’t need to cut your street berm, you just do it for your own personal good, to make your place look representable, owners would also remove tags where it ruined their appearance, however if it is on the back of the building, in a position that doesn’t affect them, why would they go to the trouble and cost of removing it?
Yeah we are bad but not as bad as I thought before I headed to Italy, The graffiti was terrible both inside and outside the trains and along the lines. What was even muh worse than Auckland was that the station buildings themselves were covered. Well, I guess graffiti is an Italian word!
Follow the UK-Have those on community service paint it over. Used to see them outside painting while I sat on the train. They can even pay for the paint!