Auckland's $500m electric trains signed off

Auckland's first generation of electric trains are set to be running in three years under a $500 million deal signed this afternoon with Spanish supplier CAF.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-regi ... d=10757025

A positive development, certainly people will welcome the cleaner air to breathe at Britomart. I wonder how much the headways will change on the morning commute services.

A (little) bit more detail on the new units themselves:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/public-transp ... d=10757115

apparently the design will be based on the Class 332, in use on the Heathrow Express services:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_332

thanks for your interest in our new trains . These are the first "new trains " aucklands had in probably 60 -70 years . although the ex british rail carriages they will replace were virtually rebuilt from the chassis up ,and the interior was as new . Aucklands trains have always played second fiddle to Wellingtons , who got new trains this year (rotem ) . I was expecting them to go to Rotem -hitachi for aucklands trains , although Wellingto is dc , auckland is A.c , so economies of scale probably dont count . Wellington last got new ganz mavag trains in the Eighties .
But its great news for "car mad Auckland , and i'm sure they will exceed ridership expectations . All we need now is the central city undeground loop to be funded , and it will be a very liveable city .
Auckland transport info on the new trains .
http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/10/06/all-a ... ic-trains/