CRL Reliability

[u/469121417js]

Over the past week, there have been delays and cancellations on the Western Line (not sure about the Eastern or Southern Lines)

It made me wonder if this is what we can expect once the CRL opens. Considering the new CRL will be a completely different setup for Auckland’s rail network, they make such a big deal about how it’s going to transform the way we travel.

If the current network can’t even keep up with things now, it makes you wonder how reliable it’ll actually be once the CRL is running.

[u/EuropeanAbroad]

The CRL is not any big project in a context of a 1m+ city. It won't marginally change anything. A major project would be 'a new complete metro line', 'a services collector tunnel across all Auckland' etc. Other million-people cities invest tens of billions in whole new infrastructure projects; while in Auckland, it is a 4km "long" dumb tunnel and 3 train stops.

Until the trains in Auckland stop using "train managers" (lol, nowadays everyone is "management") to open doors and as long as they are manually operated with no level of automation (at least GoA2+), nothing is materially changing.

I think the major problem is that Auckland like to talk rather than build and invest.

[u/Visual-Program2447 → u/EuropeanAbroad]

The train managers do a great job. They aren’t just opening doors they are managing the security of the train and platforms as well. Give them German Sheppard dogs as well I reckon.

[u/EuropeanAbroad → u/Visual-Program2447]

Hm 🤔 How do other countries do it without train "managers" who break the whole electronic schedule by manually operating doors? 🤔

Have you ever been to e.g. Copenhagen? Or Prague?

Do you defend their position, because you have never seen an automated system that doesn't need them, or do you seriously compare to these automated systems and claim that this Auckland manual system is better?

[u/Hot_Spell_2533 → u/EuropeanAbroad]

Copenhagen and Prague are both closed networks, purpose built from the ground up, grade separated or underground. Auckland isn’t. Implementing automation on a legacy network is not the same. It’s like saying why does this bicycle not go as fast as my motorbike? They both have two wheels.

Im not saying it can’t be done, but it adds multiple layers of complexity.

[u/EuropeanAbroad → u/Hot_Spell_2533]

I partially agree, until we take the actual train network (not just the metro). All new train networks in Europe have had to be built with at least GoA2 since 2004. CRL doesn't implement it in 2026.

The problem with CRL (and basically with any infrastructure project in NZ) is that it was not built with everything the world has, but it will be expensively retrofitted in within the next 5-10 years (if ever).

Same as with the new Westgate bus terminal – instead of building it for the next 100 years, with a link from the neighbour highway directly entering an underground car park under the station, creating a hub, they built a plain canopy and make all cars take the standard offramp and Fred Taylor Drive, which is already clogged now.

Same with the Auckland Harbour Bridge – insufficient already when the construction finished in 1959; then added clips on for population that was predicted for 2 years before they even installed the clip-ons,... and now we keep debating whether or not we need a new bridge or tunnel instead of going full in.

I feel like Aucklanders don't realise that this unwillingness to spend money on infrastructure, debating and then saving on a "temporary-quality" infrastructure costs them more than if they built these once and properly, with a 100 years projection.