Rail revolt as frustrated passengers refuse to pay their fares

By STUART DYE

Frustrated passengers and rail staff came to a Mexican standoff on an Auckland line yesterday after commuters refused to pay fares on a train that arrived nearly an hour late.

Western line passengers for the 7.40am to Britomart waited until just after 8.30am before the train came.

When guards came through the carriages to collect fares some passengers refused to pay.

Eventually the driver was forced from his cab to see what the "discussion" was about.

A passenger said the driver told her he would not move the train until people paid, but Tranz Rail denied this yesterday.

For 10 minutes the train stood at the Swanson station, until rail staff caved in. Some passengers paid but many refused. Commuters say it is the culmination of growing anger over the poor service.

One passenger, who asked not to be named, said they were faced with similar delays at least once a week.

"Not paying fares may be wrong, but it's the only way that we can register a protest," she said.

"Hitting Tranz Metro in the pocket is the only way we can get them to listen to us."

A man was threatened with a $2000 fine and a two-year train ban unless he paid, said another passenger who contacted the Herald.

"The problem is that passengers and staff are at breaking point - something serious and dangerous will happen sooner or later."

Tranz Rail spokeswoman Sue Foley said the train was running an hour late due to mechanical problems. "The driver at no stage threatened not to drive the train, but came to see what the discussion was about."

Ms Foley said many guards were being intimidated and abused by angry passengers as frustration over the poor service continued.

It is now more than two months since Britomart opened as the transport hub of Auckland.

Since then the service has been consistently poor and there is little sign of improvement, say critics.

Former Papakura mayor David Hawkins, who has called in the Auditor General to scrutinise the service, said the revolt was inevitable.

"People's tolerance is coming to an end and I'm not surprised."

Mr Hawkins was delayed two and a half hours last week when his train on the Southern line to Papakura caught fire. There were no procedures in place when something went wrong, he said.

Tranz Rail has sent out a clear message that people had to pay their fares.

"If a plane flight was running late no one would get their money back," said Ms Foley.