An Auckland councillor says widespread train cancellations amid high temperatures in the city yesterday were "really, really disappointing", after multiple rush hour services were abandoned in the afternoon.
Amid the confusion, Auckland Transport (AT) alerted passengers to heat conditions on tracks and said scheduled buses would accept train tickets. Trains were continuing to run on affected lines but with reduced frequency at times.
KiwiRail General Manager Metros Jon Knight said temporary speed restrictions were put in place once the steel rails reached 40 degrees – and stressed that the steels rails get hotter than the air.
North Shore councillor Richard Hills told Breakfast: "The trains – I've watched over the last few weeks – constant delays, signal failures, operational issues, crew issues.
"Then yesterday, the kind of hordes of people that were suddenly messaging me and posting about heat when it didn't feel as hot as it was the last few weeks.
"That had slowed down how fast the trains can move across the network, which means that cancellations have to happen and then it becomes like a domino effect."
He acknowledged that heat impacts rail services across the world.
That's despite Hills yesterday calling the disruption "ludicrous" and writing on social media: "Another day, another excuse."
But he stressed that frustrated commuters were "sceptical" and said other cities can cope with higher temperatures before needing to put speed restrictions in place.
"It really shakes confidence in people who use the public transport system.
"They feel like, if it's not reliable, they'll just switch to the car. We really don't need that."
Asked if the Government needs to step in, Hills said: "Yeah, absolutely.
"I talked to the mayor [Wayne Brown] yesterday, he was equally angry in his normal colourful way.
"He has sent a letter to One Rail, AT and KiwiRail to work together to sort this out, and he's contacted the minister.
"It's clear there needs investment in the rail system."
'It is critical we apply these speed restrictions' - KiwiRail
The latest set of issues comes after weeks of delays for train commuters in our largest city. Passengers have faced unplanned cancellations and delays nearly every weekday since trains returned to Britomart Station on January 22.
But Knight said yesterday's move was necessary due to the risk the track may have been warped by the heat.
"It is critical we apply these speed restrictions, so that passenger trains can continue running safely."
He stressed that heat on the track is not directly related to air temperature and that, if there have been warm nights, the rail may not cool enough from the previous day.
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