'Funeral' train trip to protest at railway cut

Ward O'Donnell, left, and Jon Reeves carry their protest coffin. Photo / Jason Dorday

Campaigners battling to save Auckland's outlying Waitakere Station plan to carry a coffin on a "funeral" train to Britomart through Thursday morning's commuter rush.

They want Auckland Transport to grant rail services from Swanson to Waitakere a stay of execution, pending its wider review of public transport options for the fast-growing northwestern sector.

It is not known whether the Public Transport Users Association pallbearers will be allowed on the train with their coffin, which Auckland Transport says "could pose a significant safety risk".

"Customers will not be expecting to share the carriage with a coffin and neither will they know whether it is occupied or not - potentially causing significant stress," a spokesman said.

But he did not declare an outright ban, and campaign co-ordinator Jon Reeves says the coffin should be allowed to travel free, like bikes.

Auckland Transport is reviewing medium- to long-term public transport links in the northwest, including possibly a rail extension to Huapai from Swanson via Waitakere.

That follows Auckland Council's decision last month not to allow applications for three special housing areas around Huapai until the Government supports better transport infrastructure.

But Auckland Transport general manager of AT Metro, Mark Lambert, is standing by the decision to withdraw trains from Waitakere for now.

Jon Reeves and Ward O'Donnell hope to save Waitakere Station. Photo / Jason Dorday

Passengers face being bussed from Waitakere to Swanson once the western railway line is fully electric by the end of next month.

No electricity lines have been laid through the tunnel between Swanson and Waitakere, which Mr Lambert said was used by only about 40 return passengers a day in April.

Mr Reeves accused Auckland Transport of undermining patronage by regularly cancelling trains.

"Whenever there are service problems on the network, they always chop Waitakere Station off first - so passengers are giving up."