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The start of the new commuter train service from Hamilton to Auckland, Te Huia, has been postponed until early next year.
Photo: 123RF
Service was scheduled to start on November 2, but had to be delayed for KiwiRail to carry out urgent work on the track.
Rail governance working group chair Hugh Vercoe said that while the delay was extremely disappointing, the track safety issue could not be ignored.
He said running the service while maintenance work is being done would mean speed restrictions that would add another half hour to the 140-minute drive.
Vercoe said it was better to delay the start now rather than face the problem of maintaining the track once the service was up and running.
“It’s disappointing, but we have to get it right.”
A delay in the completion of a new transportation hub in Rotokauri on the northern outskirts of Hamilton has been caused by Covid-19 level 3 restrictions in Auckland preventing some traders from leaving Auckland.
The newly refurbished cars will arrive in Hamilton next month and then staff training will begin.
Vercoe said the delays in obtaining commuter service, which will involve two return trips each day between the two cities, were frustrating, but he was confident it would be successful.
“It will happen, it will happen.”
Veroce said it was likely to start in February. He said the message to Kiwirail was clear.
“Don’t give us a date and I hope you can attend because that makes us all look stupid. Give us a date where you can say ‘we guarantee the clues will be safe, everything will be ready by this date.’
“Make sure it works, we will promote it and make sure it happens on that date.”
