Transport planner talks the talk

Kiri Crossland has a well-established morning routine for taking the Te Huia passenger train from Hamilton to Auckland every couple of weeks for work meetings.

Riding her e-bike from her home in Glenview, she cycles along the Western Rail Trail to the Frankton train station. Kiri packs her breakfast to take with her and makes sure she arrives in plenty of time to beat the queues for a coffee from the train’s café.

“I have a nice routine for my travel on the train which I couldn’t do if I was driving. I make breakfast and put it in a lunchbox, and I order my coffee, it’s a relaxing start to the day. You gain a lot of time to your mornings by using the train.”

Kiri works as a transport planner for MRCagney and, with most of the company’s staff in the Auckland office, she has used the train regularly since the Te Huia service was launched in April 2021.

“Everyone in our Hamilton office uses it. Sustainable transport is our business at MRCagney and using the train means we can train the train and bike the bike, not just talk the talk,” says Kiri.

The Te Huia train service was established by Waikato Regional Council, alongside partners KiwiRail, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, Auckland Transport and the Ministry of Transport.

The service has $85.8 million of funding from the Government and local authorities, including Waikato Regional Council which provided $12.2 million for the train, which can seat up to 147 people on weekdays and 197 on Saturdays.

The service, which leaves Hamilton twice a day and goes into Papakura, has been allowing commuters to transfer to the AT Metro network and journey further into Auckland. From January 2022, the service will be extended all the way into Auckland central’s Strand Station on weekdays, and there are plans for additional services to be added to the timetable which Kiri is excited about.

“I would really like to see a return service from Auckland on a Sunday which means I can catch the train up to Auckland on a Saturday, see a show and catch the train home again on a Sunday. I think the service will only get better with time.”

Kiri has been catching the 6.28am train leaving Hamilton and is in the Auckland office in time for 9.30am meetings. Electric plugs in the bike carriage area mean she can also charge her e-bike on the journey.

On the way up she uses the time to catch up on emails or do some reading while she enjoys her breakfast. On the way home she usually crochets or watches a movie.

“I find driving really stressful and taking the train removes that stress. It might take you 2.5 hours to get up there, but if traffic is bad in Auckland it can take you 3.5 hours driving and then you still have to find and pay for a car park once you get there,” says Kiri.