Auckland trains

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johno1234

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#311788 15-Feb-2024 08:43

Days and days of delays, cancellations and commuter disruption apparently due to heat?

It's not been particularly hot the last week, so the heat excuse sounds off. Anyone have any idea if it really is heat or something else? Why would there be heat issues when it's been hotter than this without all the disruptions?

I have to be in the CBD all next week and the train would be very convenient if it was running reliably...

sidefx

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#3195378 15-Feb-2024 08:49

There have been a couple of articles about this - apparently speculation that it was needed holiday works that was delayed or something so they're doing them now and "heat" is the excuse. I only skim read it so take with a grain of salt.

PS: with current transport policies best to just buy a car. Oh and be less poor mmkay?

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networkn

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#3195380 15-Feb-2024 08:54

I hate the dishonesty around the way AT talks about issues it faces with.

muppet

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#3195381 15-Feb-2024 08:59

michaelmurfy

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#3195384 15-Feb-2024 09:02

I hate the fact that when Wellington has this problem which has been ongoing now for literally months you don't really hear about it, you don't see a thread on here, it's just fine: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-train-delays-heat-restrictions-this-summer.html

And yet, when Auckland is involved with the same thing it is front page news :)

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muppet

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#3195386 15-Feb-2024 09:03

michaelmurfy:

I hate the fact that when Wellington has this problem which has been ongoing now for literally months you don't really hear about it, you don't see a thread on here, it's just fine: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-train-delays-heat-restrictions-this-summer.html

And yet, when Auckland is involved with the same thing it is front page news :)

That's because people care about Auckland.

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michaelmurfy

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#3195391 15-Feb-2024 09:12

muppet: That's because people care about Auckland.

I liked this post with the Facebook laughing emoji.

johno1234

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#3195392 15-Feb-2024 09:12

michaelmurfy:

I hate the fact that when Wellington has this problem which has been ongoing now for literally months you don't really hear about it, you don't see a thread on here, it's just fine: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-train-delays-heat-restrictions-this-summer.html

And yet, when Auckland is involved with the same thing it is front page news :)

Sorry, Wellington's bandwidth is already completely utilised with discussion about their water issues, no room for train talk. :-)

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josephhinvest

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#3195406 15-Feb-2024 09:32

The heat reason is true.
Where the tracks have faults, (a cracked rail, misaligned track, perhaps recent work has been done but the ballast has not settled yet, there are many reasons) there will be a Temporary Speed Restriction, usually to 40kmh. These can also be 60 or 25kmh. You will see a small white sign at the start and end of the restriction (a “C” and “T” board respectively).
In addition, there is another category of TSR called “Temporary Heat Restrictions” or just “heats”. When the rail temperature reaches a predefined value (I believe it is 46°, don’t quote me on that), Train Control will declare the heats on in a specific area, and then Heat restrictions come into effect.
The issue at the moment is there are many TSRs on the network as a result of the considerable amount of work that was done over the Christmas shutdown. These TSRs, combined with the Heat restrictions, mean that the trains cannot run to time, and some must be cancelled. This has happened many days this summer but has not been a big news story until this week.

Cheers,
Joseph

networkn

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#3195409 15-Feb-2024 09:36

michaelmurfy:

I hate the fact that when Wellington has this problem which has been ongoing now for literally months you don't really hear about it, you don't see a thread on here, it's just fine: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-train-delays-heat-restrictions-this-summer.html

And yet, when Auckland is involved with the same thing it is front page news :)

Cough cough economic impact cough cough ;)

antant

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#3195416 15-Feb-2024 09:44

johno1234:

Days and days of delays, cancellations and commuter disruption apparently due to heat?

It's not been particularly hot the last week, so the heat excuse sounds off. Anyone have any idea if it really is heat or something else? Why would there be heat issues when it's been hotter than this without all the disruptions?

I have to be in the CBD all next week and the train would be very convenient if it was running reliably...

I do note that in a lot of the news reports they say "heat issues ... and staffing shortages" ... but the staffing bit seems to be said very quietly at the end. e.g. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-trains-cancelled-delayed-after-kiwirail-speed-restrictions-on-tracks/J5OCPTADNZHDLEED7RORNGBJKY/

“A range of issues were discussed that have been affecting passenger rail services, which include heat restrictions, temporary speed restrictions, delays caused by a transition to a new signalling system at Britomart for the City Rail Link, multiple point failures, staff shortages, and poor communication to customers,” a statement from the Mayor this evening read.

lachlanw

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#3195816 15-Feb-2024 13:25

michaelmurfy:

I hate the fact that when Wellington has this problem which has been ongoing now for literally months you don't really hear about it, you don't see a thread on here, it's just fine: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-train-delays-heat-restrictions-this-summer.html

And yet, when Auckland is involved with the same thing it is front page news :)

Didn't Wellington get a Government Inquiry after a week of disruptions? From memory this was around the time it was announced that Auckland was facing 3 years of service interuptions

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-calls-for-investigation-into-embarrassing-kiwirail-train-disruption/W666FXDPONCFBPI244HUHEKYXU/

(Not saying you are wrong)

Goosey

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#3196058 16-Feb-2024 06:51

Here’s the solution…😀😀😀

grab a couple heat pumps.

have the “outdoor unit” fan facing a custom heat sink fin (same size as heat pump).

have that oversize heatsink connected to the rails, also have the pipe work for the said heat pump connected to the rails.

= cold rails…

dot these around and it’s job done….cools the rails…it’s one big coolant line.

Benoire

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#3196074 16-Feb-2024 08:29

The predominant issue is related to the expansion and contraction of the rails under cold/hot exposure. Everyone needs to remember that the rail network in NZ is built around a freight concept not a passenger metro (unlike the other countries mentioned in the media), this has increased tolerances for expansion/contraction along the line as freight runs slower and is more infrequent. The reality is that Kiwirail has yet to realise they are a track operator not just a freight company/provider and that their standards are old and insufficient... so as a result welding performance and steel performance of the tracks themselves is just not up to the required standard for a metro network so the commuter looses out.

Note that AT does not own or operate the track network, we run the trains and the services and request access to do so.