Paul Harper: Auckland rail gets its act together

Train services to and from Saturday's game bewteen Australia and Ireland were nothing like the Opening Night debacle. Picture / Alan Gibson

Last week's transport chaos on the opening night of the Rugby World Cup was a disgrace for Auckland.

On what was arguably one of the biggest nights in our city's history, the public transport system failed. Hundreds did not get to the game on time, as trains were held up by people on the tracks, emergency stop buttons being pressed in carriages as children and adults suffered from heat exhaustion and hyperventilation.
Fingers were pointed and blame was shifted, and Auckland's inadequate public transport system was in the firing line.

Ahead of the second World Cup match at Eden Park last night, Ireland versus Australia, which kicked off at 8.30pm, would chaos again ensue or have lessons been learnt?
Perhaps indicating a lack of confidence in the system, hoards of fans opted to take the Fan Trail last night, walking from the CBD to the ground and lapping up the atmosphere ahead of the game, rather than risk taking the city's public transport system.
But despite the negative press over the last week, plenty of punters were prepared to give the train another go.

At 5.22pm I boarded a packed carriage from Britomart Station in downtown Auckland. Full almost entirely with Ireland supporters, I was surrounded by emerald green. Already in the party spirit, the Irish were in good voice, singing Fields of Athenry, followed by Ireland's Call. The handful of good-natured Wallabies supporters responded as best as Aussies can, singing ACDC's Thunderstruck.

Two fans who were confident the train would get them to the game on time were Irishmen Ciaran Hughes and Mark Cullen.
Hughes said they caught the train to the opening game last Friday, leaving Britomart at 4pm and arriving well before the opening ceremony.
"We were fine," Cullen said.

Hughes said it appeared the whole event had been well planned, apart from public transport.
"They'd planned it really well until last Friday," the Galway man said.
"I couldn't understand how they couldn't anticipate the chaos."

The train continued to make good time, reaching Newmarket at 5.30pm, Grafton five minutes later and Mt Eden at 5.38pm. No crying children, hyperventilating adults or people walking on the tracks this time.

At 5.41pm the train pulled into Kingsland Station, where it is only a short walk to Eden Park, or alternatively an equally short walk to one of Kingsland pubs for a few pre-game pints.

Many hours later, the fans dispersed from the stadium, the Irish jubilant and still in good voice, the Aussies dejected, but for the most part still in good spirits. Crowds heading back to the city were herded along Sandringham Road to the Kingsland platform in a free-flowing queue.

I've attended much smaller games at Eden Park in the past and waited a lifetime to finally get on the train, but last night it could not have been better organised. I left the stadium at 10.35pm and was on the train at 10.46pm.

However once on the train, again packed like alcoholics in a Dublin pub, we received the dreaded announcement of delay. The announcer did not know what the delay was for, but in the interest of keeping passengers informed - a criticism laid last Friday during lengthy delays - they promised to tell us why we were being held up once they found out. Now I can't remember what the reason was in the end, but we eventually left the station at 10.55pm.

On the way to Britomart, the train was scheduled to only stop at Grafton. When we did reach the platform at 11.03pm, no one got off our carriage. An Irishman piped up, saying there's no point getting off because there are no pubs or strip clubs near the station.
"You Aussies, want to be off here," he shouted. "There's a prison."

The banter continued all journey, although it came mainly from those in green and it all remained good natured ("If you're going to dress like custard..." was one friendly jibe at the Wallabies' performance).

The singing didn't stop either, with passengers treated to another drunken rendition of Ireland's Call and Fields of Athenry, followed by Molly Malone and, of course, the theme tune from Aussie soap Neighbours.

Before too long the train rolled into Britomart, and we were on the platform by 11.15pm. The masses head out on to the streets, the Irish and Kiwis turning right towards Party Central, with the Aussies perhaps considering whether to go back to the hotel to change out of their Wallabies jerseys before continuing the night.