More rail woes
Kiwirail seem to be making a habit of upsetting me - just today there are two major irritations to commuters.
Firstly, this morning trains on the Hutt Valley line were running 10 minutes late. I knew this because:
1. It was 9 and a half minutes after the train was due.
2. The Waterloo station manager announced trains were 10 minutes late.
3. I could see the train pulling into the station at the far end of the platform.
The other major irritation is the Epuni Railway station - complete with a (very soggy) poster announcing a new shelter and roof over the tunnel entrance is due to be completed by Mid-May. However, it doesn't look like any work has happened on the new shelter since Easter.
Come on Kiwirail - just because there is no viable commuting alternative doesn't mean passengers should be kept in the dark!
Firstly, this morning trains on the Hutt Valley line were running 10 minutes late. I knew this because:
1. It was 9 and a half minutes after the train was due.
2. The Waterloo station manager announced trains were 10 minutes late.
3. I could see the train pulling into the station at the far end of the platform.
The other major irritation is the Epuni Railway station - complete with a (very soggy) poster announcing a new shelter and roof over the tunnel entrance is due to be completed by Mid-May. However, it doesn't look like any work has happened on the new shelter since Easter.
Come on Kiwirail - just because there is no viable commuting alternative doesn't mean passengers should be kept in the dark!
posted by Michael at
8:23 PM
2 Comments:
Therefore the train arrived ten minutes late which means that the announcement was correct (-;
Seriously, Wellington has a 1950s era rail system with a non-existant passenger information system. The lady in the Waterloo ticket office cannot be blamed for not knowing where the trains are. She has not been provided with the necessary facilities and is doing her best with the limited information available to her.
I understand that the GWRC (who are responsible for the Wellington bus and train commuter network) are considering installing a passenger information system for buses and trains.
As for Epuni, I agree with your comments. Properly maintained Epuni would have been an attractive station. Instead it will be replaced with three bus shelters that offer no protection from the elements.
A pity that the Historic Places Trust (or Rail Heritage Trust?) did not stop the demolition of Epuni as, it is rumoured, they have done with Naenae.
Note that the GWRC is responsible for the railway stations, not Kiwirail.
The problems you raise are a result of a lack of investment in the commuter rail network over many years.
By
Anonymous, at 2:02 PM
A couple of points:
Kiwirail owns and maintains all the railway stations in Wellington except Waterloo (owned by GW) and Wellington (owned by NZ Govt). So Kiwirail are responsible for Epuni. I've had previous discussions with them about Epuni, I will be calling them again this week about it.
I agree that a passenger information system is long overdue (and common overseas) and I applaud the Regional Council for getting on with it - Kiwirail never would.
I get frustrated that Kiwirail don't consider passengers of any importance - if there was a viable alternative then most people would eventually be attracted to it.
By
Michael, at 8:55 AM
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