No Auckland trains over lunchtime tomorrow as Rail and Maritime Transport Union meets

Train services over Auckland will stop between 11am and 1pm tomorrow as the Rail and Maritime Transport Union meets. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Auckland's rail services will grind to a halt tomorrow, with no trains running between 11am and 1pm.

Auckland Transport said the break in the usual train services was due to a Rail and Maritime Transport Union meeting.

The union had advised Transdev, which operates the trains across the city on behalf of Auckland Transport, that it intended to hold a meeting for members.

As a result, trains would not run during this time.

Auckland Transport warned there could be disruption to services before and after the meeting, however peak time train services would not be affected.

The meeting followed a strike action carried out by the union earlier this month.

The union was striking to protest the decision of Transdev, which runs the trains on Auckland Transport's rail network, to introduce driver-only operations on passenger trains.

Union advocate John Kerr told the Herald Transdev was refusing to back down on its proposal, despite mediated negotiations.

The proposal would mean train drivers had the responsibility for monitoring door operation as well as passengers, Kerr said. He believed the division of attention would significantly increase the risk of an accident and compromise passengers' safety.

How Auckland Transport announced the train services disruption to registered AT Hop card commuters.

Kerr said he regretted the inconvenience the strike would cause, but workers would not stand back and watch what he called "an attack on the safety culture of our railway".

The strike lasted for 24 hours and was estimated to affect more than 30,000 commuters.

No trains will run between 11am & 1pm tomorrow, Tuesday 19 Dec, due to a Rail and Maritime Transport Union meeting. Buses will be available to replace trains every half hour between 11am-1pm. Peak time train services won't be affected. Find out more here: https://t.co/ITikF8Y8ba pic.twitter.com/QOUeEvpLIt

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) December 18, 2017