Fans left stranded after Black Caps game following fault on train line

Cricket fans are not happy about train services. Photo / Twitter via @doodlerambling

Hundreds of cricket fans were left stranded following the Black Caps versus Australia match after a train track fault suspended special train services.

Auckland Transport had encouraged spectators to take public transport to Eden Park to watch the game, which started at 7pm.

However by the time fans began swarming out following the game's end there was a fault on the lines and trains weren't arriving to pick up hundreds of people who were gathered at the Kingsland train station platform by 11pm.

One passenger told the Herald it was "hopeless".

"Was late to game due to late departure of train," he wrote. "Trains departing Eden Park delayed and no one has any ability to communicate what is going on. Hopeless."

You'd think @AklTransport would have learned by now that it needs more carriages on all trains when there are major sports events on. But nope, here I am again, missing the start of the cricket because the 3 carriage train arrived at Newmarket station packed to capacity already

— Kelly (fka wellreadkitty) (@greyt_things_) February 16, 2018

Auckland Transport had put on a special timetable with night buses and trains running from Eden Park until shortly past midnight.

Herald journalist Cherie Howie was one of the hundreds queuing for a train after enjoying the game and said the crowds were so big she couldn't get onto the platform.

"It looked like the people (taking the train) west were okay but the people going into the city weren't," she said.

"People are not happy. They've kind of got the attitude of, 'we were encouraged to take the train,' and now people aren't able to get home."

Go all out. Use the night bus or the Northern Express to get home on Friday or Saturday night out. GO bus.https://t.co/LvpFATB0mP#ATMetro pic.twitter.com/E6p9lNXRu2

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) February 16, 2018

After awhile it was announced to passengers that shuttle buses were going to run fans to Britomart instead, but Howie said the delay meant she risked missing her connecting train into the city.

And, only two buses arrived to take passengers.

"There were people behind me with kids. I don't know what's going to happen to them."

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said at 11.30pm that the trains were back up and running after a fault on the line caused them to stop.

"Services are now resuming," he said.

It wasn't the only glitch of the evening.

Earlier travelers tweeted they were delayed en route to the game because of a lack of trains and carriages.