Posted on 7-7-2003

Auckland Transport Better Off
Press Release, ACC, 7 July 2004

Ed: Transmogrification, something John Banks seems to know a lot about.
Would that be by learning from personal experience?

..........

“We are making progress, albeit slow,” Auckland City Mayor, Hon John
Banks, said today commenting on the one year anniversary since the first
train rolled into the Britomart Transport Centre.

“A process of transmogrification is underway as we move from museum trains
to world-class public rail transport. To maximise the $204 million
investment in Britomart, we need to push on and provide modern trains,
modern suburban stations and a first-class service,” said the mayor.

“My uplifting vision for public transport also includes the
electrification of the Isthmus rail network, and tunnelling through the
back of the Britomart and up Nelson Street to connect a city-loop to the
existing rail line at Mt Eden.”

Mr Banks believes the growth in rail patronage over the past year could
have been stronger if the service hadn’t caused so much initial
frustration.

“I have always believed we should have first got the modern rolling stock
up and running. Instead, the ARC dithered, delivering the first fleet of
modernised trains nine months after Britomart was officially opened.


“Many people were keen to take a ‘test’ train to Britomart, but were soon
turned off by the early operational teething problems, the lack of trains
and the third world state of them. Having said that commuters are
increasingly telling me that the service is improving.”

Mr Banks is pleased a key part of the western line from Boston Road to
Avondale is being doubled tracked and that Henderson is set to get a
‘baby’ Britomart. Also good news is that 14 new signature stations will be
completed by September next year.

“Such upgrades are key if the Auckland region is to achieve its goal of
boosting the number of rail trips to 20 million a year by 2015. With the
current figure just over three million we have got a long way to go.

“The harsh reality is despite Britomart’s success relatively few people
are likely or are able to use a train. That’s why my focus remains on
completing Greater Auckland’s entire motorway network within the next 10
years, alongside building world-class and fully integrated public
transport.

“Britomart is more than transport though. It is also about urban renewal
and preserving our heritage. The $350 million above-ground development
around the Britomart precinct will be world-class and a magnet for
international visitors that could well end up being the heart and soul of
the central business district.”

Mr Banks paid tribute to ARTNL which he said did a great job operating the
Transport Centre, with the former Chief Post Office a clean and safe
environment.

“Despite its ups and downs Britomart has been a good start for better
transport in our region and the precinct itself is set to provide a huge
boost to downtown Auckland,” said Mr Banks.

For further information, please contact:
Hon John Banks 021 474 474 or Cameron Brewer 0274 514 421