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Householders along 110km of Auckland railway lines due for electrification are looking forward to quieter, cleaner, faster trains by 2013.
More trips by the region's old diesel fleet to cater for booming patronage are boosting air and noise pollution along rail corridors, meaning the Government's approval of a $1 billion-plus electrification project has strong support from residents along the way.
Avondale church minister Graeme Robertson said he and his neighbours in a 45-unit townhouse development along the western railway line were fortunate in having double-glazed windows to keep much of the noise from diesel locomotives out of their homes.
But the buildings shook when heavy locomotives thundered past, often up to four times an hour, so electric units could not come soon enough.
Mr Robertson said he was not too concerned about the nocturnal movements of a small number of freight trains, which operator Toll Holdings has no plans to electrify.
"If you live beside a railway line you have to expect that."
A resident of a house backing on to the line at Mt Albert complained to the Weekend Herald that air pollution from diesel trains sometimes turned her washing grey, meaning she had to give it another soaking to get it clean.
Civic leaders such as Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard believe electric trains are essential to encourage more intensive development around railway lines and stations, as required by the regional growth strategy.
Although the Auckland Regional Council and its transport subsidiary have plenty on their plate in trying to introduce electric passenger units earlier than 2013 if possible, Mr Hubbard wants an end to diesel freight trains as well.
"We want more intensive development around rail corridors and you won't be able to do that if you are only getting the electrification benefit from passenger trains and no freight trains," he said.
Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley said that although the company routinely switched locomotives at Hamilton, at the northern end of electrified tracks on the main trunk line, it would be impractical to do so again at Papakura, which will be the southern boundary of Auckland's electrification project.
But she said Toll was investigating using biofuel blends in its diesel trains, and rail was a much more efficient and environmentally friendly way to carry freight than road haulage.
Regional council chairman Mike Lee acknowledged that the main trunk line might eventually have to be electrified between Hamilton and Papakura, but said the Auckland Regional Transport Authority was concentrating for now on delivering electric passenger trains at the earliest opportunity.
The electrification project is likely to consume up to two-thirds of a proposed regional fuel tax of up to 10c a litre of petrol and diesel.
The Automobile Association has given qualified support to the tax, on the basis that it will be balanced between public transport and roading.
But the Road Transport Forum called it a "stupid" imposition on business.
