Commuter dismay at threat to rail station

Newmarket commuters are dismayed their "temporary" railway station off Kingdon St may be demolished over Christmas, saying that would deprive a high-growth neighbourhood of a valuable resource.

They raised the alarm with Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee after being told contractors were rostered to start ripping up the station's two concrete platforms beside the western railway line on Boxing Day.

That prompted an accusation by Mr Lee that the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, a council subsidiary, was acting by stealth to demolish what had become a well-used public asset since being installed in 2007 to allow construction of Newmarket's main station about 300m away on the southern line.

Although the authority denies reaching a final decision, spokeswoman Sharon Hunter says demolishing what was always intended as a temporary facility would provide a "clean break" for passengers before the new $35 million station opens in January, between Broadway and Remuera Rd.

She said the authority was investigating establishing a permanent Newmarket West station at Kingdon St at a potential cost of $9 million to $13 million, compared with $750,000 spent building the temporary facility.