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Auckland mayor reveals electric train mock-up

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Mayor reveals electric train mock-up

3News NZ

Mayor Len Brown with the train mock-up (Akl Transport)

Mayor Len Brown with the train mock-up (Akl Transport)

By Dan Satherley

Mayor Len Brown this morning revealed the look of Auckland's upcoming electric train service.  

The Spanish-made prototype has just arrived in the city, and will allow drivers and other interested parties to try out the new trains and offer feedback before the rest go into production.

“This is another milestone as we create a 21st century rail network for Auckland," says Mr Brown.

"Without electric trains, the network cannot reach its potential. Without electric trains, vital projects like the city rail link are not possible. Without electric trains, we will not be able to cope with the extra demand we are already seeing.

“What I’m now looking forward to is seeing the first of the new trains on our tracks and riding these trains on a regular basis. They will be a huge advance on the second hand trains Aucklanders have had to put up with for years."

The new trains are being built by Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF). The city is buying 57 three-car units.

The first of the faster and cleaner-running electric trains is expected to go into service in late 2013. By 2016, all of Auckland's trains will be electric.

Each train will be able to carry 375 passengers, with a top speed of 110km/h. The journey from Britomart to Papakura, for example, will be 10 minutes quicker than presently.

Each cab has space reserved for wheelchair users and bicycles, air conditioning and displays with information about local events near each station.

Auckland Transport estimates ongoing maintenance will be half what the current fleet costs.

CAF-made trains already operate in cities like Rome, London, New Delhi and Hong Kong.

Electrification of the tracks themselves began in October last year.

The picture of the electric train mock-up was posted to Auckland Transport's Twitter account this morning.

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Comments

25/06/2012 9:59:48 p.m.

Nick wrote:

They do look really nice. And it would have been great if they had of piggy-backed on the order for the Wellington units, but I think the rules for international tendering may have worked against them on that one. They should have had the foresight to put both the Auckland and Wellington tender out as a single project, then they could have really looked for cost savings. I just don't think the leaders at Kiwirail have that somehow though. I still think it's a shame that they weren't built here in NZ, or at least required to have a percentage of local build content.

18/06/2012 8:33:50 p.m.

MikeR wrote:

Looks great, but it kinda defies belief that Auckland didn't piggy-back on to the order for the Hyundai/Rotem Matangi units now cruising the Wellington network. I would have thought that a cost-concious central government would have taken advantages of the economy of scale of an increased buy plus the logistical advantages of common servicing and spares??

18/06/2012 2:45:45 p.m.

@edwin_rogers wrote:

Futuristic! Looks like Darth Vader.

18/06/2012 1:34:08 p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Now what about the old trains?could they not be fitted out as temporary living quarters for single workers down here in Christchuch,as they could be bought down here on rails and lifted off their bogies and transported to a site.