Satellite-town travellers may get light rail option

By WAYNE THOMPSON

A 60km light rail link between Helensville and Auckland has been proposed to capture Helensville's potential as a satellite town for daily commuters to Auckland.

Helensville is marked for growth from 3000 people to 13,500 in the Auckland area's regional growth strategy.

Kumeu, which is also on the main railway line to Northland, is predicted to expand from 1500 to 16,500.

Rodney District Council commissioner Grant Kirby has pushed for consideration of commuter rail for Helensville, which was left out of earlier proposals for Auckland and Waitakere cities.

Those plans took commuter services only as far into West Auckland as Swanson - 30km short of Helensville. Now an urgent report, written on behalf of the region by the Auckland City Council, has picked light rail as the best option for Helensville.

It is preferred ahead of conventional rail and a rapid bus transit system similar to that planned for the North Shore.

Auckland City rapid transport manager Ross Rutherford said light rail could run on both the existing heavy rail tracks and street tracks.

That meant Helensville commuters would not need to transfer from one system to another.

The report recommends buying hybrid diesel light rail vehicles with good quality seating for the service.

Such vehicles would use diesel power between Helensville and Swanson and switch to overhead electric power from Swanson into the Auckland Central area.

Mr Kirby said yesterday that he was happy with the assurances that a seamless rail service between Helensville and Auckland was possible.

Although he preferred a conventional rail service, he thought Helensville people would accept light rail if it did not impede conventional rail traffic.

Mr Kirby said he would carefully consider a second report by Auckland City, which examined his concerns about restraints on Northland's freight train services under the region's proposed deal with Tranz Rail for control of the line.

It restricted freight trains to between 1 am and 5 am each day, enough time for three trains a day.

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