Wellington commuters

While this growth in patronage supports our region's record in having the highest public transport use in New Zealand, it has also stretched the current rail network to the limit.

Replacing Wellington's ageing trains and increasing the capacity of the regional rail service are priorities.

New trains are being bought for the Wairarapa, Johnsonville, Melling, Hutt Valley and Paraparaumu Lines, and GWRC is exploring a number of immediate options to increase rail capacity before the new trains arrive. These include:

• Operational measures such as changes to timetables and carriage allocation.
• Introducing additional trains - buying and refurbishing second-hand trains.
• Changing the seating layout in the central area of carriages to increase space for standing passengers at peak times, eg, running more seating lengthwise, like in London's Tube. Holding straps and poles would also be provided for passenger safety and comfort.

Before deciding on any option, we're doing our homework and completing the following:

1. A passenger audit to pinpoint which trips are the most crowded so that train carriages can be allocated to meet peak demand.
2. A feasibility study looking at the cost, timing and details of the different solutions to the capacity problem.

The audit and study will be completed in the next few months to give us a clear picture of the pressure points in the system and how best to address them.

In addition, medium and long-term plans for developing the rail network will be reviewed to take account of increasing passenger numbers.

It's part of our plan to make sure public transport travel is a good experience.

Highlights are:

• Refurbishment of 19 English Electric train carriages this year in addition to the 14 carriages that have already been upgraded.
• Introduction of 18 new carriages on the Wairarapa Line from mid 2007.
• Purchase of 58 new electric carriages (Electric Multiple Units or EMUs) for the Hutt Valley, Johnsonville, Melling and Paraparaumu Lines, to be in service from 2010.
• Upgrade of the Ganz-Mavag trains now running on the Paraparaumu and Hutt Lines in 2009 to supplement the new EMUs.
• Improvements to train stations including raising and extending the Wairarapa Line station platforms and renewing signage.
• Improvements to the Johnsonville Line (depending on the outcome of the current Northern Suburbs Passenger Transport Study).
• Enhanced park and ride facilities at some stations.
• Installation of more double-tracking on the Paraparaumu Line.

Many of these improvements, such as new trains, require considerable capital investment. Funding for public transport comes from three main sources: the government (via Land Transport NZ) and regional transport rates (via GWRC) provide no more than 50% of the cost, and users contribute at least 50% through fares. Several of the above improvements have been made possible because the government has made special funding available for them.

From 2010 modern, energy efficient units will progressively replace the 33 English Electric carriages currently in operation and also provide additional carriages to meet future passenger growth.

The new EMUs will add to the existing fleet of 88 Ganz-Mavag units to take the total electric train fleet to at least 146 units, most of which will be used to carry commuters at peak times. The new trains will increase our capacity and provide the opportunity to start refurbishing the Ganz- Mavag units to bring them up to a modern standard.

The process for purchasing the 58 EMUs has begun. GWRC is advertising internationally for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to supply these trains and it is likely that a contract will be signed by July next year.

The EMUs will cost approximately $170 million and are expected to deliver at least 25 years of service. The government, through Land Transport NZ, is providing 80% of the funding with ratepayers and commuters contributing the remaining share through rates and fares.

Wairarapa carriages - interior

Features include more seats per train, and toilets and baby changing facilities on every train. People who miss breakfast at home will be able to buy a snack and coffee in the servery - an added convenience.

Travel will be enhanced by premium quality seating, reading lights and air conditioning. Relaxing tones of green, blue and aqua have been chosen for the interior decor.

Electronic visual displays above doorways and audio announcements advise passengers of the next stop and an improved public address system will enable crew to brief them on any delays that may occur.

Like many units overseas, the new carriages will have power-driven external doors which can be easily operated by passengers.

Unfortunately, you can't buy trains off the shelf.  By necessity, there's a long lead time when you purchase new rolling stock.  GWRC first has to follow a fair and competitive international procurement process and then allow for manufacturing timescales.  That means 2010 is the soonest we can have a new EMU in service.

Q: Why weren't new trains ordered earlier?

In 2004 a new law came into effect which allows GWRC to invest in regional transport assets, such as trains.  We have moved quickly to do this with the assistance of special government funding.

Q: Wasn't the current squeeze on the rail network's capacity foreseen?

No, the increase in passenger rail use has exceeded expectations. This has been fuelled by a steep increase in the price of petrol and diesel costs.  Public transport use has risen dramatically as a result.  For the year ending June 2006, passenger trips on the region's rail network increased by 8.6% (and 11% at peak times).  Before last year, growth per annum averaged just under 2%.  Future public transport planning by GWRC will factor in continued growth in passenger numbers.

Q: Why do trains run late?

The increasing number of people travelling by trains means every available carriage has to be in service.  If a breakdown occurs and takes more than a day to repair, there are no
spare carriages to call on.  This can lead to delays and overcrowding at peak times.  The arrival of the new EMUs will allow the old English Electric units to be retired from regular service and provide spare carriages when required.

Q: Can't we "plug the capacity gap" with second hand trains bought or leased from overseas?

We are looking at sourcing additional trains to increase network capacity until the new trains come into service.  However, the number of suitable trains available to us is severely constrained by New Zealand's narrow track gauge and structure gauge - that's the space within which trains can safely operate without coming into contact with trackside structures such as tunnels, bridges and platforms.  Other considerations are that any second hand trains must comply with the approved safety system and the need to hold non-standard spare parts.  It will take time to introduce second hand trains because it is likely they would need to be modified first to meet our particular requirements.

Q: Why have train fares increased before we've seen any improvements in service?

Prior to the increase in September 2006, train fares had not gone up since 2002.  Fares needed to catch up with increased running costs and to help fund improvements.  Unfortunately, we have to pay "up front" for most improvements.  It's a case of investing now to enjoy the benefits later.  Investment in new trains and infrastructure will be made over the next three years and beyond but, because of the complexities involved, there will be a time delay before improvements will be seen by commuters.