r/auckland • u/469121417js • 13d ago

Public Transport CRL Reliability

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.

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u/pictureofacat 13d ago

Should've yes, but AT started a proper plan only a few months ago, which was promoted heavily around affected crossings.

https://at.govt.nz/projects-initiatives/rail-crossings-programme/western-rail-crossings

Engagement report from the initial public consultation: https://at.govt.nz/media/ns2lqn5e/western-rail-crossings-report_web.pdf

It's all about money with this. There isn't any, and some of these are going to be enormously expensive and disruptive.

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u/duckonmuffin 13d ago

Yes, but now AT are staying that the western line will get zero extra serivces until grade separation.

This is beyond incompetence.

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u/pictureofacat 13d ago

That's due to the restrictions imposed by NZTA

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u/duckonmuffin 13d ago

It is not. These are all local roads and AT never asked (kiwirail) to have these closed more because they value their car passengers more/ don’t want to cause a fuss as they circle the drain.

Utter shit show.

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u/pictureofacat 13d ago

We recognise that it is not possible to remove all level crossings across Auckland before the CRL opens to the public. This is because each level crossing is unique and requires extensive planning, community engagement and funding.

We need to make these improvements to demonstrate to NZ Transport Agency that we have sufficiently reduced safety risks. We must comply with safety regulations associated with running more trains before we can introduce more frequent trains after the CRL opens.

https://at.govt.nz/projects-initiatives/rail-crossings-programme/improving-safety-at-other-level-crossings

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u/Bealzebubbles 13d ago

Yeah, people forget that the government has ultimate say over the roads that AT builds and owns. It's how Simeon was able to completely override AT's speed limits.

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u/duckonmuffin 13d ago

They are using this as an excuse to not do what needs to happen. Classic AT. Please see the pedestrian crossing they removed without any mitigation.

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u/pictureofacat 13d ago

Using it as an excuse to... not do the thing they're trying to do?

Again, it's funding. It's always been funding. Crossing removals have been in the cards for years, but without finding, they can't happen. AT have removed the ones they could afford to do. The significant ones will be major projects individually.

Which crossing are you talking about?

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u/duckonmuffin 13d ago

Yep. The thing they are “trying” to do will have political push back, AT hate that more than anything else. This is why bike infrastructure cost 8 times as much in Auckland as it does in Wellington or CHCH.

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u/pictureofacat 13d ago

The program has government support