Stonefields to Grey Lynn $110: Auckland commuters forced to pay huge Uber fares after train services suspended

A train sits at Mt Albert Station after all Auckland trains were suspended this morning. Photo / Michael Craig

Some Auckland commuters left stranded by a stalled train network this morning have paid eye-watering Uber fares to get to work.

One woman coughed up $50 to get from Sandringham to the CBD - around four times the usual fare for the about 7km trip - as high demand caused Uber prices to surge.

Another, travelling from Stonefields to Grey Lynn was quoted $110, a trip that usually cost $26.

Many also faced multiple cancellations from Uber drivers as they appeared to seek out more lucrative fares.

Train commuters were at a standstill several hours as a signalling fault halted all services across the entire network.

At 11.12am Auckland Transport said some train services were now operating after the fault.

"Services are now resuming on a half hour timetable on the western, eastern, Onehunga and southern line as far south as Manukau.

"Rail replacement buses are operating between Manukau and Papakura."

KiwiRail chief operations officer Henare Clarke said the company's Auckland Metro Network failed at 6.55am.

"A backup system failed to activate. The causes are unknown and being investigated.

"Some trains are now moving in the city on a third, older system while a team of 25 from around the country look to fix the issue."

Investigations were centring on a controlling system in Auckland, Clarke said.

Amid the central city chaos, the New Zealand Transport Agency was warning of heavy traffic on the motorways as thousands look to flee the city for the long Auckland Anniversary weekend.

KiwiRail, which operates the signals, had trains moving on a restricted basis around 8.30am following the signalling fault that was noted at 7am this morning, chief executive Todd Moyle said.

Auckland Transport media relations manager Mark Hannan said the network's backup system had come into force meaning trains could be moved back to train stations and people were being allowed off.

"There is a backup system that allows trains to be moved to the nearest station."

The signals went out just after 7am, he said.

One commuter faced a 90-minute commute from Ōrākei to Britomart. Embarking at 6.50am they arrived at 8.30am.

The blank departures board at Britmoart station. Photo / Supplied

There was plenty of capacity for the buses to cope with extra passengers from the trains.

Several commuters using Uber have noted price spikes and delays in pick up times.

One Uber user told the Herald her trip from Sandringham to the CBD cost $50, up from the usual fare of $10 to $12.

One woman travelling from Ponsonby into the CBD said she had trouble booking an Uber.

Every time she booked a ride the driver was attending a job far away meaning the wait time would be 15 to 20 minutes.

She also noted the price was almost double the usual fare, $12 up from $7.

One bus commuter said at 7.50am he had been stuck on a train in Drury for more than 30 minutes and was trying to make a university exam at 8am in the CBD.

Navin Raj posted to Twitter he had been in a stationary train outside of Newmarket Station for about 30 minutes.

No train movement in and out of New Market 🚉 for the past 20minutes. Just stuck in a train outside of New Market Station #train #Auckland #aucklandtransport pic.twitter.com/xazdufGTit

— Navin raj (@RajNavinraj) January 24, 2019

Holiday congestion for Auckland was set to kick off from 9am this morning, NZTA said.

"Expect traffic to become heavy on #SH1 southbound at Takanini TODAY from 9am as holidaymakers leave the city for the long weekend. "

HOLIDAY CONGESTION: Expect traffic to become heavy on #SH1 southbound at Takanini TODAY from 9am as holidaymakers leave the city for the long weekend. Check our holiday journeys tool: https://t.co/tMhQ28qKDP and plan a smoother journey to your holiday destination. ^MF pic.twitter.com/4Ch9k5JFG2

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) January 24, 2019