Ask Phoebe: Old Newmarket station will move into a new neighbourhood

Photo / Greg Bowker

To start building the Newmarket rail station, they first removed the old station to a secret location. This was to be reinstated elsewhere at a later date. What plans are there for the future of this fine old station?
Murray Grace, Glenfield.

A spokesman for Auckland Transport advises that the heritage Newmarket rail station will become a key feature in a new station planned for Parnell. Auckland Transport and KiwiRail are working with Mainline Steam, whose building is close to the site for the future Parnell station, and the Parnell community. Auckland Transport has identified Parnell station as one of its three priority stations for upgrade and hopes to announce more details soon.

What is the point of the route numbers displayed on directional signs for suburban main roads?
Kate Andrew, Auckland.

They are arterial route numbers. Years ago the Auckland system was thought up by the then regional council, with Transit.

The idea is that if you look up your route in the map book, you can find your way to wherever you're going by following the little shield signs on the city streets. I've never used them but apparently a lot of people do.

Other New Zealand cities have a similar system, as do cities overseas.

Some of the Auckland urban routes are due for renewal to provide some consistency with what used to be local authority areas.

However, I have not heard of any plan to ditch the scheme.

Can you clarify the procedure at stop signs please? If I come to a stop sign I stop, regardless of whether there is traffic coming. If I come to a stop sign and stop behind another car which then moves off, am I required to stop again at the stop sign which may be only a few metres in front of me if the road is still clear or can I just continue behind the first car? Is there a rule as to how close you need to be to the stop sign?
Alan Milton, Cambridge.

Dave Parsons from the National Road Policing Unit says you can proceed behind the first car so long as you have stopped first and are in a position where you can see the road is clear. If not, you must stop again and wait until the way is clear.

Any traffic officers who might be monitoring the intersection will be able to tell whether you can see that the road is clear and you will not be penalised for driving off without stopping a second time.

Clarification: A reader has advised that a response in an Ask Phoebe column last week about impeding the flow of traffic was out of date.

Rule changes in 2005 mean the issue of impeding the flow of traffic now applies to single-lane roads, not motorways.

The current requirement is that essentially all drivers must keep left on a multi-lane road, with a few specific exceptions. Thus, if someone is travelling in the right hand lane on an empty motorway they are breaking the law as much as if they were travelling above the speed limit.