Hamilton Central Station (underground) CBD

[Rail-it]

Just looking on google maps, and I agree that developing Centre place to incorporate an underground station would be a fantastic move. It is directly above it.

There is also room for a Triangle from the NIMT to ECMT to be completed at Frankton.....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 11362&z=17

Yes, but to build something like that would cost millions of dollars. At a guess $3-5m.

[Jonthekiwi]

The plans for the Hamilton Central station will be on our new website due to go live tomorrow www.VoteTRAINS.org.nz

[dpalenski]

The plans for the Hamilton Central station will be on our new website due to go live tomorrow http://www.VoteTRAINS.org.nz

About time Jon want happened to I need this site up and running by the end of this month (July)

[gandalf1944]

The RWC seems to have put Hamilton Central back on the agenda (at least temporarily) (Also feature in latest "Express")

All aboard for World Cup fans to Hamilton

BRUCE HOLLOWAY Last updated 11:30 23/03/2011

Yesterday, Hamilton City Council's infrastructure committee heard KiwiRail had been approached about booking trains from Auckland for Waikato Stadium's three World Cup matches in September and October.

A report on transport planning for the event said buses had already been booked to transfer passengers from Frankton Station, off Queens Ave, to Waikato Stadium, while KiwiRail was also preparing to put on train services from Hamilton to Auckland for matches at Eden Park.

But the council committee members felt the awkwardly located Frankton railway station was not up to scratch as a gateway to Hamilton for tourists and corporate visitors. "We have had complaints about the terrible state of the railway station," said city transportation manager Phil Consedine. "It's pretty rough."

"It is a real grotty place," said Councillor John Gower.

Councillor Dave Macpherson said reopening the central underground station, beneath The Warehouse, and accessed via a service ramp under Centre Place mall might be a possibility.

"We would need to have a discussion with [Centre Place owner] Kiwi Properties but it is something that would deliver people right into the centre of town, which is what we want."

The Hamilton underground platform – opened in 1964 but abandoned for decades – is in even worse shape than the Frankton station, with the dilapidated and dingy concrete structure covered in graffiti. But it does have the advantage of being central, and strategically the council is looking to use the World Cup matches to entice visitors into the city heart.

Mr Macpherson said a number of interested parties recently investigated the possibility of constructing a new rail platform on a section of the lowered track parallel to Bryce St, opposite Seddon Park, which would provide a convenient pedestrian connection to Waikato Stadium.

But this would likely pose major logistical and technical problems, including disruption of freight trains, and the underground station might be a better fit.

KiwiRail is also planning to run five trains from Hamilton for Auckland cup matches.

[matthew25187]

When did Hamilton Central close? looks like such a waste.

From memory it was the early 90's that it was boarded up. (Maybe a bit earlier)

Was last used in 1995 - ish.

Of course frieght trains use the rail daily.
Its just the platform and station that havent been used since 1995ish.

Now I'm curious where this 1995-ish date comes from. According to the aforementioned article (ref. All aboard for World Cup fans to Hamilton) "The Hamilton underground platform – opened in 1964 but abandoned for decades..." which is congruent with my information (from what I regard to be a reliable source) that indicates the Hamilton Central underground platform has been "out of use" since 1975. I realise it might not have been until much later, possibly mid-1990s, that access to the station was blocked off, but when was it actually last used to serve a passenger train? The phrase "abandoned for decades" is not consistent with a 1995 date.

[john-ston]

Now I'm curious where this 1995-ish date comes from. According to the aforementioned article (ref. All aboard for World Cup fans to Hamilton) "The Hamilton underground platform – opened in 1964 but abandoned for decades..." which is congruent with my information (from what I regard to be a reliable source) that indicates the Hamilton Central underground platform has been "out of use" since 1975. I realise it might not have been until much later, possibly mid-1990s, that access to the station was blocked off, but when was it actually last used to serve a passenger train? The phrase "abandoned for decades" is not consistent with a 1995 date.

I would note that passenger services stopped using the East Coast Main Trunk in 1968, which would have meant that it would have ceased to have been used at that point for everything but the odd charter. I am not sure if Hamilton Central was used after the introduction of the Kaimai Express and Geyserland in 1991, although I have the feeling that any use would have been brief and possibly sporadic.

[keg]

Now I'm curious where this 1995-ish date comes from. According to the aforementioned article (ref. All aboard for World Cup fans to Hamilton) "The Hamilton underground platform – opened in 1964 but abandoned for decades..." which is congruent with my information (from what I regard to be a reliable source) that indicates the Hamilton Central underground platform has been "out of use" since 1975. I realise it might not have been until much later, possibly mid-1990s, that access to the station was blocked off, but when was it actually last used to serve a passenger train? The phrase "abandoned for decades" is not consistent with a 1995 date.

Was used by the Kaimai & Geyserland in the 90s, stopped some years before those services were withdrawn though.

[geoff_184]

Yep, I boarded both the Kaimai Express and Geyserland Express at Hamilton Central in 1991. It reopened when those trains commenced, and closed again around 1995 due to vandalism.

While waiting for the Geyserland Express on the underground platform, the Rotorua freight came roaring through up the grade from the bridge, and filled the station with so much exhaust you couldn't see more than three or four metres. Reopening in this day and age will require a ventilation system to be installed, which I would think would probably be cost prohibitive. The various parties suggesting it should reopen seem to overlook this aspect.

[Rail-it]

The RWC seems to have put Hamilton Central back on the agenda (at least temporarily) (Also feature in latest "Express")

All aboard for World Cup fans to Hamilton

BRUCE HOLLOWAY Last updated 11:30 23/03/2011

Yesterday, Hamilton City Council's infrastructure committee heard KiwiRail had been approached about booking trains from Auckland for Waikato Stadium's three World Cup matches in September and October.

A report on transport planning for the event said buses had already been booked to transfer passengers from Frankton Station, off Queens Ave, to Waikato Stadium, while KiwiRail was also preparing to put on train services from Hamilton to Auckland for matches at Eden Park.

But the council committee members felt the awkwardly located Frankton railway station was not up to scratch as a gateway to Hamilton for tourists and corporate visitors. "We have had complaints about the terrible state of the railway station," said city transportation manager Phil Consedine. "It's pretty rough."

"It is a real grotty place," said Councillor John Gower.

Councillor Dave Macpherson said reopening the central underground station, beneath The Warehouse, and accessed via a service ramp under Centre Place mall might be a possibility.

"We would need to have a discussion with [Centre Place owner] Kiwi Properties but it is something that would deliver people right into the centre of town, which is what we want."

The Hamilton underground platform – opened in 1964 but abandoned for decades – is in even worse shape than the Frankton station, with the dilapidated and dingy concrete structure covered in graffiti. But it does have the advantage of being central, and strategically the council is looking to use the World Cup matches to entice visitors into the city heart.

Mr Macpherson said a number of interested parties recently investigated the possibility of constructing a new rail platform on a section of the lowered track parallel to Bryce St, opposite Seddon Park, which would provide a convenient pedestrian connection to Waikato Stadium.

But this would likely pose major logistical and technical problems, including disruption of freight trains, and the underground station might be a better fit.

KiwiRail is also planning to run five trains from Hamilton for Auckland cup matches.

I wonder who would pay the bill? Waikato folk don't seem keen on anything temporary(hint, hint maybe we'll have something permanent please?)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4803969/Luke-warm-response-to-Hamilton-subway-plan
Maybe it's a good oppurtunity for a mini trial though, using just Frankton station in the mean time?

[richard]

When the Silver Ferns ran to Rotorua and Tauranga in the 90's I caught the train at the central station.
The tagging etc. had been given a quick paint over for the reopening of the platform and it was not particularly flash but right in town compared to Frankton Junction. I recall there was a steel gate at the top of the ramp to the station but the taggers and despots would of course walk up the tunnel to the station.

[Daniel]

It looks to me like the station under Hamilton would be great, but that it needs some MONEY injected into it.

If anyone was willing to make the investment, then...

[duddley]

It would need a regular train service to make it worthwhile otherwise its alot of hard work and money to spruce it up for only a few weeks use

[geoff_184]

When the Silver Ferns ran to Rotorua and Tauranga in the 90's I caught the train at the central station.
The tagging etc. had been given a quick paint over for the reopening of the platform and it was not particularly flash but right in town compared to Frankton Junction. I recall there was a steel gate at the top of the ramp to the station but the taggers and despots would of course walk up the tunnel to the station.

I don't think tagging was a huge issue, as that form of vandalism hadn't really taken off in NZ at the time. It was mostly things like street kids hanging out there, fires being lit, people going to the toilet etc. But of course these days you could install CCTV, much better lighting, and provide security guard checks. Should be fairly straight forward to keep it as tidy as your average Auckland station, like Grafton.

The cost will come from having to build a whole new access point, and sorting out health and safety issues, such as emergency access points out of the tunnel and station, and doing something about the exhaust fumes from passing freight trains. It won't be a cheap project.

[Jonthekiwi]

... but all so completely do-able.... oh no, I forgot it's in New Zealand.... roading and trucking lobby territory.

Get rid of the Nat's and you have a good chance to living in the future. Otherwise you are stuffed for another 3 years of 50's transport thinking.

PS.... love the tram, bus and train network in Europe. Realise Steven Joyce is a total idiot now. Enjoy his "White Elephant" projects.

[geoff_184]

... but all so completely do-able.... oh no, I forgot it's in New Zealand.... roading and trucking lobby territory.

Only you could link the Hamilton underground station to trucking

Get rid of the Nat's and you have a good chance to living in the future. Otherwise you are stuffed for another 3 years of 50's transport thinking.

Labour wasn't any better. Don't you remember Cullen telling us Auckland electrification was not an option, for almost eight of their nine years in power? And let's not forget, National has a more positive history of rail expenditure in this country than Labour. National is traditionally the party that buys new locomotives, and Labour is traditionally the one who makes excuses for not doing so.

[Jonthekiwi]

Geoff.. point one... well done : )

Point 2 ... Not so sure on your facts there as it was Labour who took power in 1984 who ordered the EF's for delivery in 1988 right?

DX's were ordered when and arrived when?

DSJ's were ordered when and arrived when?

[john-ston]

Point 2 ... Not so sure on your facts there as it was Labour who took power in 1984 who ordered the EF's for delivery in 1988 right?

The EFs would not have even come here had it not been for NIMT electrification, and that was a Think Big proposal

DX's were ordered when and arrived when?

DXs started arriving in 1972, so the order would have been placed a little earlier.

DSJ's were ordered when and arrived when?

DSJs started arriving in 1984, so the order would have been placed a little earlier.

National is traditionally the party that buys new locomotives, and Labour is traditionally the one who makes excuses for not doing so.

In defence of Labour, between 1949 and 1984, they were only in power for 6 years in total, while National were in power for 29 years.

[geoff_184]

Point 2 ... Not so sure on your facts there as it was Labour who took power in 1984 who ordered the EF's for delivery in 1988 right?

Electrification, including purchase of electric locomotives, was a National "think big" project.

DX's were ordered when and arrived when?

The DX's were built in 1971, after being ordered in 1970 under a National Government. The second batch was under Labour.

DSJ's were ordered when and arrived when?

Ordered 1983, under a National Government.

The DBR and DC rebuilds, DF's, DSG's, the Ganz units, etc, all came from National. The latest new locos (DL's) also required a National Government to get off the ground. Labour has a few under their belt, but traditionally, most new loco purchases are under National.

I don't think either main party is particularly pro-rail. They both need goading into spending on rail. New Zealanders enjoy the car culture, and government reflects that.

[Jonthekiwi]

Electrification, including purchase of electric locomotives, was a National "think big" project.

We all know the NIMT EP was a think big project .. the question was, to clarify your statement, when were the EF's ordered? By the Labour Govt of 1984 or National one?

DX phase 2 were ordered by whom for their 1975 and 1976 delivery? The Labour Govt or National Govt? Trying to get specifics here rather than generalisations, that's all.

Which party was in Govt to kill off the regional passenger rail services in 1967?

You are correct, the parties play as to what ever is popular. Unfortunately Steven Joyce is in the 1950's roading and trucking lobby camps still and thinks that's what NZ wants. Personally, I think it is how much the Nats receive in financial contributions which drives his motivation.

[pcuser42]

We all know the NIMT EP was a think big project .. the question was, to clarify your statement, when were the EF's ordered? By the Labour Govt of 1984 or National one?

The first thing that comes to mind here is that this question is pointless: either party would look silly if there were no locos to run on an electric railway