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Mind the (history) gap

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Auckland has a history of getting rail wrong. Will this year's proposal be different?

I know this makes me sound like Marcus Lush (not that there's anything wrong with that), but I am tremendously excited by the proposed underground rail network for central Auckland ... even though in all probability it won't get built.

An underground rail link for Auckland was first proposed in 1923, by Railways Minister Gordon Coates. The idea next gained traction in the 70s, under Auckland's longest-serving mayor Sir Dove-Myer Robinson.

His vision was to develop a rapid transit network for Auckland, with rail as the backbone. In July 1973 the Labour government agreed to fund electrification of the railway network between Auckland and Papakura, and an underground rail loop from downtown, via the central city to Newmarket. The proposed inner-city loop included an underground station on the Britomart site.

Everything was looking good ... until the National government decided that the transit network was too expensive. They canned the scheme in 1976.

Thirty-two years later, Finance Minister Michael Cullen has—finally—asked Government rail agency Ontrack to work on designating a route for a 3.5km tunnel between Britomart and the Western line at Mt Eden. The Herald reported last week that a 'central station' bigger than Britomart is proposed for Albert Street (see left), 18 metres underground.

It's heartbreaking to think of the kind of metropolitan, cosmopolitan, world-class city Auckland could be right now, if either of the 1923 or 1973 plans had been followed through.

Could history repeat itself if Nation wins this year's election? Let's hope not. If you support underground rail  for Auckland (or a rail connection to the airport, for that matter) email National's Spokesperson for Transport, Maurice Williamson, and let him know.

Comments

Paul
longflatwhite.ning.com/
 
Mon September 08, 2008 @ 09:27 PM
Hey all.

Having lived in Vancouver off and on for the last decade, it's been both inspiring and depressing watching Vancouver's public transport system evolve.  They have a vision for where they want to take public transport, and while not everyone is happy with it, and the likes of expansion lines have been disruptive to local businesses, the integrated bus, water taxi, train and skytrain system is stunningly easy to use and navigate around.

Not content to sit back and bask in the glory of the 1996 North American transit system of the year, they have actively encouraged growth of their system.  On the majority of all of the bus services you don't have to wait any longer than 3-7 minutes, and your bus ticket lasts for 2 hours on any of the services across the city.  It was possibly for a family to live in that sprawling city and use public transport only, without feeling like you were missing out on a single thing.

I don't know if they have or not, but anyone associated with public transport planning in New Zealand, but Auckland in particular needs to get on one of those direct flights to Vancouver and go through every single last detail as to how and where they have succeeded. Leaving  Vancouver this year (on public transport) we were given a stark reminder of the development of this system, with the near completed new syktrain line out to the air port lining the route.  Next time back there, it will be $3.50 and a 15min trip into the centre of the city.

Meanwhile back in NZ, more motorways for Auckland?
Mike Merrington
 
Tue July 31, 2012 @ 09:28 AM

Open letter to our Mayor Loney Len.

Having just traveled on the underground in Los Angeles,Paris,Milan,and Tokyo.

These trans are full all the time and in most cases leaving every three min (Tokyo trains are up to 30 carrages long each carrying 600 pax) and still the rate payer subsidises this form of travel. How in hell do you think a underground in Auckland serviceing maybe 6000 pax a day to two stations, can be called viable. DON'T burden my children and grandchildren with this costly madness!

hope you get well sooner than later

Mike Merrington

an overburdned rate payer

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