Eden Park trains need 'urgent attention’ after ABs match delays

Frustrated rugby fans booed passing trains at Eden Park last night as delays to city-bound services left thousands queuing after the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies.

Eden Park bosses are now calling for “urgent attention” to transport infrastructure around the stadium as Auckland Transport (AT) blames a late closure of the nearby level crossing for leaving some fans waiting long stretches for a train.

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Stadium chief executive Nick Sautner told 1News: “Our patrons and our hirers are paying for a service, and the service needs to be better."

The All Blacks won 50-19 last night to keep the Bledisloe Cup and extend their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 54 tests.

But many of the sold-out crowd then faced a confusing wait to get home.

One described "huge queues to get into the city and not a single train".

They said in the time three trains had left for Ōtāhuhu, none had left for the city, and two trains marked “out of service” had passed through the station.

“They keep saying ‘five mins’,” one said. "Shocker."

Another said the situation was “munted”, saying the crowd started booing passing trains.

Rugby fan Laura told 1News there were children crying on her train because it was so crowded, and another said staff appeared “quite overwhelmed”.

"It's my first time using the train to get to an event, won't be doing that again in a hurry," another woman said.

1News understands crowds around Kingsland station were cleared by 10.15pm, within usual timeframes for a sold-out Eden Park test. But that came after some gave up waiting and abandoned plans to catch a train amid heavy crowds.

AT issued an alert to passengers at 9.27pm saying there were "significant delays" at Kingsland station for East West line trains heading towards the city centre and east.

It directed fans to special event buses, saying they had shorter wait times.

Another alert later suggested city-bound passengers take a South-City line train from platform one and transfer trains to get to the city.

Witnesses said South-City line trains had been quieter, and city-bound trains moved people once they arrived but were slow to reach Eden Park.

AT general manager of rail services Mark Lambert said traffic management problems were the primary reason behind longer waits.

"East-West trains to the city and east were not ready to leave immediately after the game because a delay to closing Morningside Dr level crossing to cars meant trains could not get in place to line up at Kingsland station on time," he said in a statement.

"The timing of the Morningside Dr closure was part of the agreed traffic management plan, which AT does not implement, and it was disappointing this caused delays to trains.

"This meant that some fans were waiting up to 40 minutes for an East-West train."

Since the start of October, Auckland Council has been responsible for roads and other transport infrastructure, with AT now only operating public transport services.

Lambert said waits for other trains and special event buses had been about 10 minutes, and the “vast majority” of fans were cleared within an hour.

He said 15,000 people caught trains, out of 19,710 who used special event transport.

Last night’s test was the first time AT had run direct southern trains from Kingsland after a match, under a new plan introduced since the City Rail Link (CRL) opened.

At previous All Blacks tests, both of the station's platforms were used for trains heading to the city. Under the new plan, one platform was dedicated to trains bound for Ōtāhuhu instead. Meanwhile, the city-bound trains headed for the CRL used platform two.

On Thursday, AT operations centre event planning lead Todd Hurley said fans should expect queues after the final whistle at the game.

"Just like sporting events around the world customers should still expect queues and busy crowds as 50,000 people will be leaving the match at once," he said.

"A six-car train can carry about 1000 people, so it takes time for each train to load."

Fans with match tickets had free bus and train travel from 3pm.

Following the match, Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner issued a statement calling on Auckland Council and AT to give "urgent attention" to transport infrastructure around the country's national stadium.

"It's magnificent to have a venue like Eden Park, but we expect a world-class experience from the street to the seat, and that's not the case currently."

Speaking to 1News today, he said the “street to seat experience” had been compromised by infrastructure at Kingsland and Morningside stations.

"There's no question there's concern waiting for 45 minutes on platforms and also confusion in relation to the services available," the chief executive said.

"Now we know that's a new piece of infrastructure. There's going to be teething problems, but there's no question that Kingsland railway station is now no longer fit for purpose and needs a review."

Sautner said about 40% of Eden Park’s operating costs related to transport.

“Given the significant cost involved, we expect the transport services and infrastructure supporting our events to reflect that expenditure and deliver the standard of experience fans should expect from a world-class city,” he said.

"The CRL is a gamechanger for Auckland, but we need to ensure the infrastructure connecting people to the stadium can support the opportunities it creates."

Sautner said the next six months would bring one of the stadium’s largest-ever event calendars, from international cricket to concerts by Guns N’ Roses and Robbie Williams.

With three sold-out Bruno Mars concerts and State of Origin also coming to the stadium in 2027, he acknowledged future upgrades would not be ready in time for next year, but said attention needed to be given to them now.

"From our side, our patrons and our hirers are paying for a service, and the service needs to be better, so I'm encouraging all stakeholders to get together and work through a solution, whether it be a short-term solution, given the calendar of content we've got over the next six months.

"But then also, let's put together an infrastructure plan for the next five years for this precinct to ensure that we can get the value of capture and creation in this area."

Auckland Council director of transport and infrastructure Steve Mutton said events like last night’s test "demonstrate the critical role Kingsland and Morningside stations play for both major events and everyday travel".

"As Auckland Council plans for significant growth in this part of Auckland, we’re considering the transport and infrastructure investments needed to support future residents, workers and visitors, including potential rail station upgrades and level crossing removals," he said.

- additional reporting by James Ball and Simon Mercep