KEY POINTS:
Auckland's public transport agency has spelled out to rail industry suppliers its hope of introducing electric trains two years earlier than a Government target.
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority has in an "industry engagement document" sought indications from suppliers throughout the world of their ability to start delivering electric trains in 2011 in a $1 billion-plus project to be part-funded by a new fuel tax on road users.
That is two years earlier than the Government's stated aim of electrifying 80km of Auckland's rail network by 2013, and is in line with regional council chairman Mike Lee's desire for fast and quiet electric trains to be an attractive option for the tens of thousands of visitors expected for the 2011 rugby World Cup.
But although the authority has confirmed similar aspirations in the industry document, it has also acknowledged a likelihood of taking until 2013 to roll out a full fleet of at least 33 self-propelled electric units of four cars each.
"The window of delivery is expected to be 2011-2013," the document says.
An indicative list in the document also includes 12 trains to be hauled by electric locomotives, and eight diesel shuttle units to carry passengers beyond the limit of overhead power lines at Swanson and Papakura.
The transport authority has emphasised that the document does not represent any solid commitment on its part, being simply to test the waters of industry interest and capabilities. But it expects to be ready early next year to seek formal expressions of interest from suppliers, and to let a contract before 2009.
Despite the tentative nature of the document, the authority said last night it had received 12 written responses and had conducted several face-to-face discussions with industry representatives.
It is counting on electrification to spur an almost trebling of rail patronage to more than 15 million annual passenger trips by 2016, and suggests in the document that its fleet may grow to more than 120 electric trains by 2030, if it can develop network extensions such as a $1 billion inner-city loop from Britomart to Mt Eden via a tunnel under Albert St.
The authority envisages doubling up electric trains to eight cars at peak times.
But because each car will be at least 20m long, that is likely to mean having to extend platforms even at some of the stations it has already refurbished, from a standard fit of 140m.
Exceptions will be Britomart and Newmarket, where Government rail agency Ontrack intends providing 180m platforms in a major redevelopment over the next two years.
Ontrack spokeswoman Jenni Austin said yesterday that the agency acknowledged the importance of 2011 as a target date for electrifying a substantial part of the Auckland network, but told the Herald it was too early to make a solid commitment to that.
Even so, she said a $600 million basic upgrade of the network to be completed by 2009 would add substantial improvements to services even without electrification.
A major part of the upgrade was duplicating the western line from Newmarket to Swanson, including the installation of new signals which would allow diesel trains carrying rugby cup spectators to run in the same direction along both sets of track if needed.
The authority has in its industry document indicated a preference for letting a single contract to a consortium which will operate and maintain trains as well as providing them.
