Train services between Hamilton and Auckland are facing hurdles when it comes to staying on track despite Te Huia chalking up its 100,000 customer and hitting a two-year passenger number target.
A Future Proof public transport subcommittee hui heard about the challenges Te Huia faces, including network capacity issues.
Another report talked of a bureaucratic spaghetti junction to be navigated before plans for a new multi-billion dollar rapid rail service between the two cities can proceed.
That process – which will undoubtedly take account of Te Huia – includes a confidential indicative business case currently under wraps while it’s considered by Government ministers.
But the committee’s deputy chairperson, councillor Angela Strange of Waikato Regional Council, was “quietly confident” that Te Huia will at least keep operating for its full five-year trial period ending in 2026.
People she’s talked to “desperately want it to continue”.
And she also strongly supports the introduction of a “game changer” rapid rail service.
“It would enable people to live within their own communities but still have options for work and study elsewhere.”
A staff report on Te Huia noted the regional council needs to do a two-year service review this year and that project partners still hadn’t approved funding beyond June next year.
It also said Te Huia’s operation and timetable paths had only been approved by Kiwirail until a new Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) is opened in late 2025.
“The introduction of a new post-CRL service timetable will increase frequency of Auckland’s Metro passenger train services and may restrict access for Te Huia through the Auckland network.”
A list of options for the future was outlined but most had problems. It was felt continuing to operate Te Huia between Frankton and the Strand station via the eastern line was preferred, and it was suggested only minor timetabling tweaks might be needed to accommodate this.
But any Te Huia holdups between Wiri Junction and Westfield under this scenario could cause delays for Auckland Metro services and vice versa. Still, the report indicated it was hoped the Frankton-Strand link could be maintained.
Consideration of these issues comes after April’s announcement that driver shortages and the wait for a safety approval had led to a “bitterly disappointing” delay in expanding Te Huia train services.
For further reading of the article in the Waikato Times
