Hamilton Central Station (underground) CBD

[rail_up]

There are already quite a large number of people who live in Hamilton and commute daily to Auckland.

Incidentally, I know of a number of people who live in Te Aroha who make the daily pilgrimage to the big smoke. Personally I think they're mad - it's a bloody long way from TA to AK by road if you have to do it 5 days a week.

Somehow I just can't see Hamilton embracing commuter rail services. Not enough of the city is built near the existing lines, there's no practical way to run new rail around the place (unless they chose light rail / trams - and Hamilton just isn't on this level) and the place has always been a bus city.

The CBD has great potential for a station, Frankton already has one and a new one could easily be incorporated at The Base. Even with these three facilities in place though, it doesn't really constitute a viable 'transport system'.

[Rail-it]

It's something to keep at though.

When Aucklands EMU's arrive, things are bound to change. It looks all glum at this stage whether such services can be slotted in the Auckland rail system even after the advent of the EMU, but no one really knows for certain what the outcome is until it happens do they.... train slots at Britomart, or how well transfers will work at Papakura, or even Pukekohe etc.

As for commuters and the catchment in and around Hamilton, maybe that is where park n ride will make an effect? There's at least potential there isn't there.... Claudlands, Central, Frankton, Te Rapa, The Base.

Even departures/arrivals from Te Awamutu could catch areas such as - Oahupo, Melville/Deanwell.

At the Hamilton end there is potential for offering a service which could provide for local commutes as well as to Auckland.

[geoff_184]

Somehow I just can't see Hamilton embracing commuter rail services.

Not an urban system no, but regional, as in Huntly, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville and Cambridge, might stand a chance.

You sure?

Yes, there's an 8 story building built on the tunnel. There's also an 18-20 story building hard against it.

Yes, but a good portion are going no more than 260 metres from the train station - remember, three of the five tallest office buildings in Auckland are within 260 metres of the train station.

That doesn't change the fact that 260m is inconsequential to most people, and they will and do walk a lot further at either end of the train trip.

Option 1: Parking right by your office (and petrol) for $10
Option 2: Public transport, plus a hike for $10

Since 260m is not a hike, I don't think your options are applicable.

You don't need thousands to justify that level of service; 500 - 1000 would do

In order to get 500-1000 people onto PT, the actual number of commuters between the cities would need to be in the tens of thousands, as PT only ever appeals to a minority. Remember, most people who commute between Hamilton and Auckland require a vehicle at each end of their journey, or are in a line of work that requires their vehicle in the first place. Even then, the total number is small. Most are in a trade or business that requires travel. I doubt there are many, or any, people who live in Hamilton and go to a traditional office job in Auckland.

With cheap housing down there, it will become an attractive option pretty much as soon as a public transport service is provided

I disagree anyone would choose to spend 7 hours a day commuting, and paying the fares to do so, as a way of saving money. The price (financial and otherwise) is too high. Remember, unlike overseas examples, the Hamilton-Auckland route will always be a case of a 7 hour PT journey vs a 3-4 hour car drive. Rail will never attract masses on this particular route unless it operates at 200km/h in order to get the overall commute down to a level closer to the car journey, and I can't see that happening anytime soon. It will get bus loads, but not train loads.

It's also debatable that we should use public money to subsidize someone's chosen lifestyle. If someone wants to live 150km from their work, then they should probably be prepared to accept the costs they create, and not expect everyone else to fund their lifestyle.

[pickle]

Why would it be 7 hours a day commuting? The train should be able to do it in 2 hours one way.

[geoff_184]

Why would it be 7 hours a day commuting? The train should be able to do it in 2 hours one way.

Unless the train runs express north of Papakura, it will be 2:25. Then you have to get yourself from home in Hamilton to the station, and from the train to destination in Auckland. Then there's the allowance for late running that they would allow for between arrival time and the time most people start work. That's why for 9 to 5 workers, the Hamilton train proposal was to get the train into Auckland around 8:30am. So someone starting work at 9am would be leaving home in hamilton at 5:30am. If they just drove direct, they wouldn't have to leave home until 7am.

Thus, 7 hours spent between home and work, instead of 4 in the car. Very few people from the already tiny market would take that up.

[pickle]

Sorry I don't agree. I'm not sure anyone would support anything but an express north of Papakura. If you work in the CBD then I would say 15 minutes travel from Britomart at the most to any place of work. And it would be unlikely to take more than 15 minutes to drive from home in Hamilton to a park & ride. 5 hours in total.

[geoff_184]

And it would be unlikely to take more than 15 minutes to drive from home in Hamilton to a park & ride. 5 hours in total.

Ok, so suppose 15 minutes drive in Hamilton. Train departs at 0610, so not giving yourself any extra time, let's say 0555 departure from home. Start work at 9, so you're leaving home 3hr,5min before starting work. That's 6hr,10min per day spent between home and work.

By car, on a good day it's 90 minutes, on a bad day, 2 hours, so that's 3 to 4 hours per day spent between home and work.

The bottom line is that you would need to convince people to leave home in their car at 0555 instead of 0700, for a service that will still cost about the same in fares as petrol. I really can't see the punters going for it. It just takes away too much of your time.

[pickle]

Okay but why are suggesting start work at 9am? Under your calculations they'd be able to start work at 8.25am.

[Rail-it]

Now that the EMU's are on the horizon... maybe planning should be based around what times the EMU's will run between either Pukekohe/Papakura-Britomart. Personally, 2 hrs is the maximum a successful service could run, otherwise how will it compete with other modes of transport?

If it was to be a 2 hr trip, that would be a 5 hr trip from home as it is.

Don't forget though Geoff, when one takes their car to Auckland they have to park it too! There's time and cost unknown there, too the point of even getting a park. Just wondering if your calculations accommodate that?

[eurokiwi78]

Don't forget though Geoff, when one takes their car to Auckland they have to park it too! There's time and cost unknown there, too the point of even getting a park. Just wondering if your calculations accommodate that?

Excellent point, it can be quite time consuming parking ones car in a multi storey carpark then exiting the building on foot to get to your place of work, likewise in the evening. And I expect at peak time the majority of carpark users are entering and exiting in the same rush hour window. Plus I assume carparking would be 'free' in the Waikato towns.

Not to mention the opportunity to have a coffee and breakfast, read the paper, surf the internet on your iphone and even do some 'work' on a laptop which are things one probably shouldnt do whilst operating a motorvehicle.

Making the Waikato a viable commuting option for Auckland workers would also mitigate high house prices somewhat.

I have an aquaintance who lives out west, about ten min walk from Glen Eden station and parks at some cheap carpark near K'Rd then walks to his place of work at the Westfield Shopping Centre because he thinks it saves him time.

[Nick R]

I have an aquaintance who lives out west, about ten min walk from Glen Eden station and parks at some cheap carpark near K'Rd then walks to his place of work at the Westfield Shopping Centre because he thinks it saves him time.

Amazing isn't it, how people will never comprehend walking from a transit station, but will spend half their lives circling around trying to find a park, or driving into a building and making their way down from the seventh floor and walking six blocks to get to their destination.

[commuter]

Spending 24 hours in Hamilton and I've discovered that the place is a pedestrian hell so, frankly, I'm unsurprised that commuter rail is perceived as an unattractive option by the city's residents. If Aucklanders are welded to their cars then one can only observe that Hamiltonians are cars.

[locost_bryan]

Aucklanders are welded to their cars

Oh, er, that sound's painful!

[eurokiwi78]

Aucklanders are welded to their cars

Oh, er, that sound's painful!

But so does the following

Spending 24 hours in Hamilton

[locost_bryan]

Aucklanders are welded to their cars

Oh, er, that sound's painful!

But so does the following

Spending 24 hours in Hamilton

My in-laws live in St Andrews. Nice walkways along the river , plenty of action for trainspotters , closer to the action at Hampton Downs and Taupo Raceway.

[forrest]

I have a grand plan for Hamilton Central which includes tram-trains from Te Rapa to Claudelands, Waikato University and Cambridge. This seems like efficient transport to me. I don't see it being better transport for Hamilton though.
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[locost_bryan]

Hamilton to get new luxury hotel