first new train ready for Auckland , New zealand

Modernised Train Ready for Auckland

16 March 2004

The first SA train for Auckland's rail fleet has been rebuilt, and is ready
to begin services in April.

Working in partnership with the ARC, staff at the Tranz Rail's Hillside
Engineering Workshops in Dunedin have stripped and completely remanufactured
the train according to customised designs.

The Auckland Regional Council Chair, Gwen Bull, said that when the train
begins services in April, it would instantly provide greater capacity for
rush-hour commuters.

"This sleek, modernised train will help relieve pressure over peak times,
and as more SA trains are re-vamped over the coming year, other trains can
be taken off the tracks for refurbishment.

"This train is comfortable, clean and attractive, and will greatly improve
the travelling experience for Auckland commuters".

The train was modernised as part of a $61 million dollar programme to
upgrade Auckland's train fleet, which was funded with assistance from the
Government.

Cr Bull said the ARC and Tranz Rail have worked together as business
partners in the SA Train venture.

"The ARC is working to transform the rail system into a modern, attractive
passenger transport option. The SA trains were commissioned to meet the
growing demands on rail, and are the latest step in the upgrade of
Auckland's rail fleet".

Up to ten SA trains are due to be refurbished before the end of 2005. Each
seats between 190-260 passengers, depending on the number of carriages, and
are powered by a single locomotive at one end, with a drive cab at the
other.

The train also includes other design features to assist vision and mobility
impaired passengers. These features included colour contrasting of signs and
doors, extra room for guide dogs, and handles to assist movement.

Cr Bull said public transport must be accessible to everyone, to encourage
Aucklanders to leave their cars at home.

"We identified some areas on our trains that could be improved to make
travelling easier for passengers, and have incorporated these into the
design of the SA trains".

The new designs mean the trains are comfortable and user-friendly for
everyone, making commuting by rail much more appealing.

For more information please call
Sarah Howison on 09 366 2000 x 8181, 021 656 719
or
Gwen Bull on 09 366 211 1

Note i have copied this in its entirety , rarther than a link , as no link to the article was provide d , and it appears to be a news release from the council , or tranz metro .

heres a link ot the newsletter with pictures of the new pasenger coaches .
British readers may be surprised that these were rebuilt from mark 2 intercity coaches from England . about 60 were brought to New Zealand around 5 years ago . they have already converted 8 to use in another commuter train , these retained the standard doors , and even seats i believe . of course the bogies were cahnged to suit our 1067 mm gauge .
the rest were supposed to be used to modernize the long distance fleet ( currently 50 years old ! ) , but the cost of the refurbishments have put that on hold .

http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/transport/ra ... tter_6.cfm

So New Zealand has metre (well, close to it) track gauge, but "British Rail" loading gauge? It seems to me that the converted coaches would be somewhat unstable.

1067 mm or 3 foot 6 inches . the loading gauge is abit smaller than the british , i dont think the new carriages will be able to go on some branchlines . They are about the same size as the old NZ carriages , i dont think stability is a problem .
The British loading gauge is very small for standard Gauge , possibly the smallest in the world ???

made the national news , unfortunately they made a point of the fact that these are 25 year old rebuilt carriages . should be a welcome relief for Auckland commuters .
the sa sets do not have driving cabs at one end yet , presumably they will operate into britomart , then reverse out , and go round the triangle to provide a return service . this will restrict thier use in peak hours .

http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/index.cfm?15 ... 04A14766E4

from a railfan in Wellington .
http://www.crusader.fotopic.net/c153829.html

In what can only be good news for public transport , Auckland city has dumped its pro road mayor , and elected a council strong on public transport supporters .
Transport was the main election issue , and the voters have come out stongly in favour of councillors who support public transport . This may be a surpirse to the people who often sate , "youll never get Aucklanders out of thier cars . " .
wether money is actually spent on rail is another point , but its looking more likely than it has in the last 20 years or so .
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay. ... on=general

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_i ... D=10116969

looks like the fruits of the recent election changes are coming through .

Rail getting as much as road in capital spending in aucklands 10 year plans .

Note that Auckland is considered a "youll never get them out of thier cars city " , so this is a brave move , despite the apparent mandate in the elections , there will still be alot of opposition .

frustrated passengers lead fare revolt

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_i ... D=10330995

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_i ... D=10329771

Rugby-friendly station set for kick-off .

kingsland station is closest to Aucklands main rugby ground .
the main station in Wellington has ramp access into the staduim itself , which was built on land that used to be railway sidings .

oh Dear . Trains on aucklands western line are struggling to keep to the timetable . the problem seems to be the new Loco hauled passenger trains cannot accelerate as fast as the old dmu's . Connex is been blamed , but it was not them that designed and introduced the new trains . short term solution is to add another loco to the push pulll trains .
Lon term they have to bite the bullet soon , and buy new dmu's , or better still electrify the lines .

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_i ... D=10333277

David Benton wrote: better still electrify the lines .

After Iceland, New Zealand is the ideal country for moving to the post-oil economy. Rail electrification is a good first stage, before moving on to hydrogen derived from hydro and geothermal. There are already proposals for hydrogen powered locomotives on lines not suitable for overhead (not very intensive services).

The current high price of oil should encourage these changes.

it certainly would George , and should of been done 10 years ago . theyve stuffed around for 30 years trying to decode what to do with aukland rail services , and cant make a decsion on anything .
Now , auckland is also facing power shortages , and theyre saying they cant electrify until that problem is solved .

David Benton wrote:it certainly would George , and should of been done 10 years ago . theyve stuffed around for 30 years trying to decode what to do with aukland rail services , and cant make a decsion on anything .
Now , Auckland is also facing power shortages, and they're saying they can't electrify until that problem is solved .

I'm pretty sure that in the 1930s Italian railways were powered from geothermal steam power plants. Like Iceland, I believe you have plenty of that? Don't you also have a lot of hydro?

We have abit of geothermal , and around 70% of our power comes form hydro . Also windfarms . But most of the hydro stations are some distance from Auckland . They want to put a 400 kv transmission line ot bring more power to auckland , and there is alot of opposition to that form farmers and other people in the path of the transmission line .
Most hydro and gepthermal sites have been already developed , so most new generation would have to come form wind or thermal plants .