The idea of a Hamilton to Auckland commuter train, on the face of it, looks like a good idea. But is it in the form proposed? In funding this is the government on the right track?
The first and probably most important issue is the ticket price. The fare proposed is $12.20 one way from Hamilton to Papakura where passengers change to an AT Metro train to Britomart at a cost of $6.30. That makes a daily return fare of $37 dollars x 5 days per week = $185. Assuming you commute to your job on average 48 weeks per year you would pay $8,880. This figure compares favourably with paying on average $40 or more in petrol for the return journey in a car. It also negates the driving and sitting in traffic queues.
The next most important issue is time. The proposed timetable has trains leaving Frankton at 5.54am & 6.33am. Afternoon trains would leave Papakura at 5.27 & 6.27. The total journey time would be on average between 2 hours 15 & 2 hours 30 to Britomart. Five hours return. If your work hours were 8.30 to 5 you would have to get the first train up and the last train back. So you would have to be up at about 5 in the morning to get the first train and the second evening train would get you to Frankton at 7.57pm. Then you have to get home. That is a long day. It would be more practical for those with either the odd business appointment or those visiting for recreational activities.
The stations the train will stop at are Te Rapa, Rotokauri and Huntly, then direct to Papakura. With the population explosions happening in Pokeno and to a lesser extent Te Kauwhata where the government is trying to encourage Kiwibuild it is a little mystifying that the train is not stopping there. There is also Tuakau. They may be included in the future. Why not now? When this idea was trialled in 2000 the closer to Auckland the train got the more people used it. Only 30 on average made the full trip.
This is starting to look like the Harbour Bridge in terms of poor planning. National, in a press release last December, said that it won’t make any difference to the congestion on the motorway which is correct. It also pointed out the business case is woeful with only $50 million returned for every $100 million spent. If the train was full every working day of the year for the next six years, the project amounts to a subsidy of about $140 per passenger per trip. A total of $78 million.
National’s idea of electrifying the line to Tuakau is not much better. It might help Auckland commuters but not those from Hamilton. The line needs to be electrified from Hamilton to Auckland. Why electrification stopped at Hamilton beggars belief. Electrification should be done prior to the start so the appropriate trains can be used. Having diesel trains and having to change and pay two fares hardly encourages patronage. What is needed is a fast direct service if the idea is to be taken seriously.
If not done properly this could end up being derailed like the first attempt back in 2000.