AT and rail transport in Auckland

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › AT and rail transport in Auckland - fail.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 9

200 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 66

#2039435 18-Jun-2018 09:37

Auckland will have a population of 2 million in about ten years. It's not economic to import a fleet of cars big enough to accommodate that number along with all the fuel to run them nor to allocate enough land to accommodate them.

Public transport has to do the bulk of the job, and needs to be usable like in other modern cities of this size.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#2039448 18-Jun-2018 09:58

sbiddle:

Davy: I agree with you kryptonjohn. Half-hour gaps and excessive fares are the reason so many people in Auckland are pushed into driving everywhere.

It's even worse in other parts of Auckland though, especially North Shore which doesn't even have a single train station. This needs fixing, because it's high time we had a government in NZ that took climate change action seriously.

Who do you propose pays the estimated (last time I saw a price mentioned) $10 billion for a tunnel or new bridge and train line?

I still don't think fares are expensive. Public transport costs in Auckland based on journey distances are less than Wellington, and I don't consider $3.30 for a 2 zone trip on the train excessive. It's NZTA strategy (nothing to do with AT) to charge premiums for cash payments vs stored value cards. Here in Wellington you can't get discounted fares unless you purchase a 10 trip ticket, so to compare say Wellington to Upper Hutt vs Britomart to Papukura it's $9 in Wellington for a casual trip vs $6.20 in Auckland on HOP.

If it's cheaper to get an Uber then I would say it's too expensive.

I forgot to mention - I used pre-paid "AT Hop Cash" to pay for wife's paper ticket, so it was paid with a stored value card. It still was $5.50 instead of the $3.80 or whatever the price for Hop Card is. There's no way I know of to conventionally pay for two rides with a Hop card.

So that's fails #3 and #4.

Next time we'll get Uber. Cheaper, quicker, door to door, no huddling under a windy shelter on a rainy night wondering if you'll get mugged.

Why do you say it's NZTA that determine a charge premium for cash over stored value? How is NZTA controlling AT on their pricing?

Not particularly interested in comparison to Wellington as it's irrelevant to me. What I am interested in is my available options in Auckland which are take the car (and deal with parking), train, bus, Uber or taxi.

Need to remember in all of this: This was a Sunday evening trip. The Uber option not so good in rush hour.

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#2039451 18-Jun-2018 10:03

kryptonjohn:

Wow. Maybe AT shouldn't have spent so many millions moving themselves into a totally Gucci refurb of the Vodafone building in the swanky Viaduct Harbour precinct. Not sure those beautiful views over the harbour are a requirement for getting our public transport moving. They have an incredible number of staff in the $200k+ salary bracket as well.

Grump, harrumpf and bah-humbug!

You don't see much other than the odd couple bonking it out in the Sofitel... There are not harbor views..

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#2039458 18-Jun-2018 10:09

No that's night right. I'm usually in the Microsoft building next door to AT - we have harbour views and are directly opposite the Sofitel. I'm looking right at it. AT are to the east of us so they have a better harbour view than we do (of the lighter basin and Viaduct Harbour).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2039462 18-Jun-2018 10:20

kryptonjohn:

Why do you say it's NZTA that determine a charge premium for cash over stored value? How is NZTA controlling AT on their pricing?

At a national level NZTA are ultimately responsible for all public transport through PTOM (public transport services) and the farebox recovery policy (pricing and funding). AT set their pricing in conjunction with NZTA who provide many of the subsidies.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2039497 18-Jun-2018 10:39

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Benoire

2878 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 681

#2039560 18-Jun-2018 11:45

hio77:

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

you must have a free parking location? It costs me $10 from Titirangi return on PT and $50 per day driving; I however ride my e-bike as it costs me $0.1 per day to run and takes 35 mins door to door, I am fortunate that my apparently gold plated fancy harbour view office has 200 bike parks and 20 showers (split between mens and ladies).... PT is 1.5 hours and driving is 1 hour.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2039566 18-Jun-2018 11:50

Benoire:

hio77:

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

you must have a free parking location? It costs me $10 from Titirangi return on PT and $50 per day driving; I however ride my e-bike as it costs me $0.1 per day to run and takes 35 mins door to door, I am fortunate that my apparently gold plated fancy harbour view office has 200 bike parks and 20 showers (split between mens and ladies).... PT is 1.5 hours and driving is 1 hour.

Not free at all.

I'm based in Waitakere (near Bethells to be clerar) though.

Swanson to Britomart is like 9$ last i checked?

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

xontech

268 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 56

#2039610 18-Jun-2018 12:47

Cheaper to catch an Uber?
1 x Train fare at $3.30 and one at $5.50 = $8.80......
https://www.uber.com/en-NZ/ride/ says it would be $12-$17 for an Uber.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#2039651 18-Jun-2018 13:02

Wife and I often bus into town if we are having a couple of drinks - Buses are probably a little more frequent than trains at weekends.

There is an app - you just make sure you know what time you are aiming to be at the stop for the trip home - easy.

Costs $6.60 for both of us each way. Yes - they penalise non HOP card holders.

Many systems overseas now only allow use of plastic cards - no cash handling.

Hoping they do it here soon as well. Hate standing behind that idiot that gets on ahead of you on a rainy day, cant find his/her wallet, seems surprised that bus rides cost money and only has a $100 note - meanwhile users with the instant payment card are getting wet.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3818

#2039688 18-Jun-2018 13:17

If I was in charge ...

Cheap fares, frequent services.

Rapacious congestion charges for cars in the CBD, that subsidise the money lost on mass transit.

Charges for motorway use as well (except through traffic).

Exemptions for people with limited mobility (and more parking for them).

Mike

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#2039745 18-Jun-2018 13:51

MikeAqua:

If I was in charge ...

Cheap fares, frequent services.

Rapacious congestion charges for cars in the CBD, that subsidise the money lost on mass transit.

Charges for motorway use as well (except through traffic).

Exemptions for people with limited mobility (and more parking for them).

Hard to disagree. At least those that do need to drive through the CBD get the benefit of less congestion.

However there needs to be legislation to prevent the authority capturing the charges from spending it anywhere else. Never trust those buggers.

GV27

5977 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4212

#2039769 18-Jun-2018 14:06

hio77:

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

There is no train service to get me to my desk in time in the morning. I drive because I have to. It means I can move my hours around and am less affected by traffic but now the school run seamlessly merges into rush-hour and things are slow from about 3:30 onwards.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2039814 18-Jun-2018 15:12

hio77:

Benoire:

hio77:

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

you must have a free parking location? It costs me $10 from Titirangi return on PT and $50 per day driving; I however ride my e-bike as it costs me $0.1 per day to run and takes 35 mins door to door, I am fortunate that my apparently gold plated fancy harbour view office has 200 bike parks and 20 showers (split between mens and ladies).... PT is 1.5 hours and driving is 1 hour.

Not free at all.

I'm based in Waitakere (near Bethells to be clerar) though.

Swanson to Britomart is like 9$ last i checked?

Swanson to Britomart looks to be $4.80 each way and take 58 min.

AT hop

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#2039831 18-Jun-2018 15:20

blackjack17:

hio77:

Benoire:

hio77:

try the train from all the way out west, it can be a little funky..

i now opt to drive into town every day, as it's quite frankly faster and more reliable.

it costs me the same...

you must have a free parking location? It costs me $10 from Titirangi return on PT and $50 per day driving; I however ride my e-bike as it costs me $0.1 per day to run and takes 35 mins door to door, I am fortunate that my apparently gold plated fancy harbour view office has 200 bike parks and 20 showers (split between mens and ladies).... PT is 1.5 hours and driving is 1 hour.

Not free at all.

I'm based in Waitakere (near Bethells to be clerar) though.

Swanson to Britomart is like 9$ last i checked?

Swanson to Britomart looks to be $4.80 each way and take 58 min.

AT hop

Hence my whinging about the 7min Orakei-Britomart single segment being $3.50(HOP) $5.50(HOP cash). And of course being the penultimate stop it's usually full in the morning commute so you can forget about having a seat and instead will be standing compressed into some strangers.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 9