Ask Phoebe: Diesel trains shunted aside and on market

One of Auckland's electric trains arrives for its first trip from Onehunga to Britomart Train station. Photo / Greg Bowker

Buyers will be sought for unwanted rolling stock, says Transdev.

With all the hoopla over the new electric trains (and they are indeed wondrous things) one got to thinking - what is going to happen to all the old diesel trains and carriages? Will they just go to some great shunting yard in the sky? Peter Black, Sandringham.

Pretty much. The information I have (from Transdev, who own the trains) is that the old ADK diesel units will be stabled in the Henderson yards, except for those still required for the leg between Papakura and Pukekohe, until that section is electrified. If a buyer or buyers can be found, the old trains would be sold off.

In the last few days, I've had at least one vehicle run a red light, nearly hitting me as I turn right from Woodbine Ave onto Great South Rd in Greenlane. It does not appear to be the "usual" late orange to red-light running we see in Auckland, but more blatant to the point where opposing traffic is already moving through the intersection when they come through. The only things I can think of are severe colour-blindness, criminals on the run, a change in phasing or error at this set of lights. Can you help me to solve this mystery? Katherine Nordmeyer, Auckland.

I certainly can. You cannot blame the lights or the phasing; red means stop, no argument. This is just poor and dangerous driving. So, please, be careful.

I was wondering if you could get Auckland Transport to shed any light on this anomaly: My daughter travels by train to school (from Sunnyvale to Sturges Road), which is two stops but, because she crosses the fare stage at Henderson, she is charged for two stages. She uses a HOP card and surely, in this electronic age, there could be some allowance made for people who are effectively being penalised for making short journeys on public transport? Graham Hepburn, Sunnyvale.

Herewith Auckland Transport's response, which you may or may not find helpful:

"Most train cash fares are charged on the distance you wish to travel, with distance-based stage points used to calculate the fare charged. Stage points are set at specific points along the railway line and are set up the same as the bus stage points. If you travel across a stage point then the fare increases. For instance, a trip from Sunnyvale to Sturges Road crosses a fare stage boundary at Henderson and therefore this is a two-stage journey. Since the fares are based on distance, it is the overall distance travelled that determines the fare, rather than the number of stops.

The AT HOP child concession fare is $1.70 for a two-stage journey, which is 15 per cent cheaper than the standard child fare of $2.

Further to Tuesday's column, Auckland Transport is working with the late Possum Bourne's family on the wording for a plaque to be installed by his statue in Pukekohe's Town Square.

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Do you have a question for Phoebe? It can be about transport or any Auckland issue. Email askphoebe@nzherald.co.nz