Currently Browsing: Breakdowns
Are They Running Out Of Excuses?
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsMar 11th, 2010 | 1 CommentMy train was eight minutes late today. The train guard announced on the intercom it was because the driver needed a rest room stop.
It was originally called “operational issues.”
Now we know what that really means.
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Desperate Times
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsMar 10th, 2010 | 8 Comments
If I write about every breakdown occurring on the Auckland rail network at the moment, especially the Western line, this site will look like a bad Microsoft day with nothing but error messages.
There are so many ‘outages,’ a breakdown or delay is no longer news.
When my train stopped at Kingdon St, last night, and didn’t seemed to want to continue, I couldn’t work out what was happening.
I wondered if this was some sort of memorial ceremony to the demolition of this one-time Newmarket West stop, bowled over by demolition crews against ARC Chair Mike Lee’s wishes at...
Latest Photos: New Grafton Train Station – From Boston Rd End
Posted by Jon C in Boston rd, GraftonMar 8th, 2010 | 10 Comments
Here is how the new Grafton train station set up looks from the Boston Rd side:
Here is how it is on the Newmarket side of Park Rd:
ALSO: Latest Photos from Park Rd
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Another Breakdown: How Long Can This Go On?
Posted by Jon C in Breakdowns, WellingtonMar 5th, 2010 | 9 Comments
Another poor old broken down train this morning –and the rail equivalent of a towtruck finally arrives just west of Morningside station to attend to the train.
It’s becoming all too familiar.
And in Wellington today once again more problems – signal faults affecting services to Paraparaumu and resulting in bus replacements.
The trains I have been catching lately in both directions have definitely had much lower patronage than last year. Not all but some.
I’m sure of this because I’m amazed to now get a seat on the same scheduled train that last year, I had to fight to get even standing...
Another Signal Fault Tonight!
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsFeb 23rd, 2010 | 2 CommentsIt’s not quite the XT meltdown.. but Auckland rail commuters had another signal fault to deal with on peak hour tonight.
This time it was a failure at Britomart.
It’s been fixed but it caused delays and some cancellations.
While we used to this,- it feels now this happens a couple of times a week- but that perception may well be causing some commuters to give up.
Some trains do feel a bit emptier than I remembered them last year.
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‘Train fault” Mars Monday Morning
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsFeb 22nd, 2010 | 6 Comments
A train breakdown at Glen Eden caused the usual chaos on the Western Line from 8am this morning, the first day of the train fare increase.
Train services were held up by around half an hour and many people at the station I was at, started drifting away – especially as the first train eventually through was packed to the gills and was an express to Newmarket only. Not a good look for a Monday –and once again information at the stations was minimal.
Some days you feel nothing is working when it comes to trains
We heard just one announcement of a “train fault” which didn’t give any clues...
Compensation For Delayed Commuters?
Posted by Jon C in Breakdowns, WellingtonFeb 18th, 2010 | 5 CommentsThe contentious issue of compensation for stranded or delayed train commuters is about to get interesting.
KiwiRail is now talking about compensation for commuters affected by this week’s Wellington rail meltdowns.
That would be a precedent and even put Auckland’s rail operators in a difficult situation, should passengers in Auckland ever start arguing such a case. (Until now, any requests after breakdowns have been refused outright).
Today’s Dom Post quotes Kiwirail saying that it’s “actually a very difficult question to answer, because if you do compensate then you have to compensate...
The Same Old Song
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsFeb 16th, 2010 | 6 Comments
Hopeful peak-time commuters entering Britomart tonight were greeted with the same old song.
Namely, a scrolling line under the timetable boards announcing delays of 10 minutes or so ‘due to operational issues.”
So what on earth does that mean?
BRITOMART; Settling in for a long wait
Does it mean:
Drivers didn’t turn up for work and they are short?
There’s too much snow on the tracks?
A train went through a red light and two trains collided and they”re still cleaning up the mess?
A train broke down and is blocking the track?
A UFO has landed near the Britomart tunnel...
Auckland, Wellington Train Commuters Stranded
Posted by Jon C in Breakdowns, WellingtonFeb 15th, 2010 | 3 Comments
A major Western Line meltdown this morning left people stranded on stations and those who managed to eventually get a train, were very late for work and school.
The problem was a signal collapse at New Lynn. Weekend work was being done between Avondale and New Lynn at the weekend but there’s no indication if this contributed to the problem.
And in Wellington, a power failure halted trains this morning leaving commuters stuck on trains for an hour, and eventually let out to walk along the tracks to their destination.(picture here)
There were no announcements to the stranded Wellington commuters-...
Newmarket Points Failure Caps Off Bad Day
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsJan 26th, 2010 | 7 Comments
It’s been a bad day at the office.
A signals failure at Newmarket this afternoon is causing delays for rush hour trains.
Some trains are leaving Britomart 15 to 20 minutes behind.
NEWMARKET: Be prepared for a wait for that train this afternoon
As mentioned earlier today, berthing problems at both Britomart and Newmarket are compounding the problems.
Trains are being delayed leaving Britomart because they haven’t arrived as they are parked outside the tunnel waiting for a berth while trains heading for Newmarket are parking outside the tunnel or the Parnell tunnel area until trains leave...
Berthing Pangs
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsJan 26th, 2010 | 20 Comments
Let’s not fool ourselves that things are going well.
This morning saw another bad morning with endless delays.
Reader Sam, who has switched to biking, write: “This just in – one of our office mates, who catches the train in from out South, has been stuck on his train in Britomart – for 40 minutes! Still can’t get off and is texting us frantically. This is the insanity I’ve left behind by sticking to the bike!”
Wise to switch, Sam.
I took a trip from the west to Britomart and in that time, could have almost driven to Hamilton on a good motorway day. The train was...
It’s Not A Bus, This is A Train – Video
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsJan 25th, 2010 | 8 Comments
Amid the madness at Britomart tonight, was a debate about what to do with a cyclist who wanted to take his bike on the train – but the train was being replaced by a bus.
The Veolia information guy explained the bus had to take the bike because it’s a train even though it looked like a bus! It sounds like some Monty Python skit.
This amateur video (thanks reader BK) gives a taste of how disorganised and amateur it is when things break down.
I make it clear it’s not the staff’s fault. They are great people and do their best and beyond what they need to do.
But there is an...
Power Failure: Western Line Rush Hour Chaos – Photos (Updated)
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsJan 25th, 2010 | 20 Comments
The rush-hour power failure, which involved causing the new multi-million Newmarket signalling system to not be able to function for a while, led to chaos at Britomart as rail commuters tried to get home.
Once again, there seemed to be no contingency plans in place, plenty of conflicting explanations (initially it was blamed on Newmarket’s new signals) and conflicting or an absence of instructions to waiting commuters. The right hand of the officials had no idea what the left hand was saying or thinking.
Passengers were initially told the actual signals had crashed leading to delays on the...
Boston Rd / Grafton Station Work – Today’s Photos
Posted by Jon C in Boston rd, GraftonJan 24th, 2010 | No Comments
Here’s the latest look at the Grafton station work going on at the Boston Rd side of the Khyber Pass bridge, just up from the Boston Rd station.
AS seen from the train window!
TODAY’S KHYBER PASS PHOTOS – here
RECENT GRAFTON – BOSTON RD DEVELOPMENT PHOTOS
Grafton – Jan 16th Photos
Boston Rd one week before trains resume- Photos
Khyber Pass closed overnight for Grafton work – Photos
new look newmarket train corridor takes shape – Photos
Cranes take over Newmarket skyline – Photos
Grafton and Khyber Pass work frentic – Photos
Nov 18 –...
Media Reinvents Yesterday
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsJan 19th, 2010 | 13 CommentsAmazing to read a media version of Monday’s train problems, which is prominent on Stuff this morning.
It’s from NZPA, which supplies most print and some online media in NZ.
The report says that Auckland train services are back to normal today (correct) “after yesterday’s embarrassing signalling system failure that made thousands of commuters late for work.” (not correct).
It wasn’t a failure. Trains simply did not resume normal services because work that had been going on to upgrade signals had not been completed.
Yet the NZPA report continues: “Commuters were forced to take buses...
Broken Again!
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsDec 14th, 2009 | 5 Comments
Oh no! The cones are out again at Britomart.
The escalator is broken again.
Last time it took 37 days before it got fixed.
How do we fix this? It took 37 days last time
Take you time. There are no trains between Dec 25 and Jan 18 so Britomart will be quiet.
Let’s just hope those new escalators at the new Newmarket station work a lot better than these ones.
NEW: Will the Newmarket ones work better?
Or maybe they have a speedier service company so they can fix them quicker if they do go wrong.
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A Jolt Of Reality
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsDec 3rd, 2009 | 2 Comments
"My train won't go"
In our enthusiasm about the forthcoming new electric trains, we can easily forget the state of our current ones.
Passengers tossed on to the platform
There was a grim reminder today when a Britomart-bound train on the western line broke down in peak-time traffic this morning and had to limp to Morningside where it was abandoned as passengers had to get out and wait for the next one.
Amusingly, the announcer over the station’s loudspeakers kept warning people on the platform not to board the train as if it were about to blow up!
Peak-time train services...
Boston Rd Train Fire
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsNov 23rd, 2009 | 3 Comments
A fire in a train carriage at Boston Rd this morning caused the evacuation of the train and a backlog of services.
No one was hurt and passengers left the train at the stop. It was an early morning Britomart-bound train.
Early reports say a diesel generator ignited. Western line train services were halted for a time and when services resumed, they seemed to crawl past the area.
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On Day 34….
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsNov 4th, 2009 | 2 Comments
On Day 34, a technician finally arrived at Britomart.
The escalator has been out for operation, by my calendar, for 34 days but had a sign saying it was closed for maintenance. But there was never any sign of any maintenance happening for all 33 days.
Despite the recession, it obviously takes a while for a technician to be available.
Or maybe he had to come from China where the escalator may have been made.
Anyway, he has come , just the one bloke it seems , and scratched his head but hopefully will work it out.
He erected barricades, which gave the appearance some work was about to start, and...
How Could A Container Stop Auckland & The Trains?(Updated)
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsOct 30th, 2009 | 6 Comments
So let me get this right. A first world city, on the verge of hosting the Rugby World Cup, sees 280,000 homes and businesses lose power, with delays to trains and traffic in the process.
And this was caused by a forklift containing a container hitting a line.
Transpower says a circuit on the Otahuhu to Henderson 220 kV line tripped while the other circuit was out for maintenance, causing loss of supply for North Auckland and Northland (about 280,000 consumers). Their investigations confirmed that a forklift carrying a container hit the line near Otahuhu.
So here are some questions someone in...
Signals Failure On Western Line
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsOct 29th, 2009 | 4 Comments
Western line services are running late tonight because of a signals failure at New Lynn.
Is this DAY 22?
Note the usual professional sign (left) bringing Britomart commuters the news.
And is it DAY 22 for the closure of the escalator at Britomart (right)? Still no sign of any “maintenance” workers!
Interesting view out my window as I blog - but when will this train move again?
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Wellington Rail Sets Communication Example
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsOct 13th, 2009 | 2 Comments
When life returns to normal, lets hope something can be done about keeping us better informed about services.
It’s timely as Veoila has done a good job in trying to us informed of delays during the bus stoppage and also apologised to customers for a problem that, for once, was beyond being their fault.
To be frank, this was a welcome change. Wellington’s rail services recently went through a series of meltdowns and commuters had no idea what was happening – something that sadly is what happens to Auckland commuters regularly.
So it has suddenly been pro-active, taken stinging consumer...
Riders On the Storm: The Doors Fail,A Brake-down, Commuters Thrown To The Wet
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsOct 5th, 2009 | 5 Comments
Tonight’s westbound 4.48pm service had to be “terminated” at Kingsland after a door failure and a subsequent discovery of a brake issue. More proof that our tired old carriages and diesels are barely able to continue functioning. Passengers in the peak-time train had to stand on the wet blustery cold platform (left) waiting for further instructions and to hitch a ride on the next available train.
A fortnight ago I called for closure to the doors problem. Since then there have been numerous reports of more problems with doors not opening.
On this particular train, a middle door...
We Need Closure To The Doors Issue
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsSep 16th, 2009 | 5 Comments
What’s with the doors issue plaguing Auckland trains?
The other night, staff on the train I was on were struggling to shut one of the doors and the train wouldn’t proceed until it could be shut properly.
You get a couple of stops along, and you hear that annoying door beeping noise to indicate one of the doors isn’t closed properly, there’s the rattling of keys to try to shut it, a rattling that gets more frantic as the beeping continues and we are stuck somewhere unable to proceed.
Now reader Karl has this great story of his door opening saga on the eastern line.
The 5:28...
Train Manager, Let Us Come In (Or We’ll Blow The House Down)!
Posted by Jon C in BreakdownsAug 17th, 2009 | 5 Comments
So another bad Monday on the Western Line.
More delays this morning with announcements saying trains were delayed but at least, over the loudspeakers,Veolia did apologise.
Tonight the 4.58pm was about to depart as people scurried to climb on board. Just as one man was about to board, the tall youngish Train Manager (better known as conductor or guard to us) jumped on board just ahead of him and closed the door in his face.
The man sheepishly looked on expecting the Train Manager would still let him on.
The Train Manager began to collect tickets from a carriage that had plenty of seats left.
The...
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I began this as a diary about catching an Auckland train & to create an online record of rail & motorway development. Now it's called AKT as it covers news & views from rail to motorways, the Auckland harbour crossing debate & cycle trails.
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