Sunday rail an instant hit

Auckland's much-maligned public transport system got a boost yesterday from commuters welcoming the return of Sunday train services after a break of more than 40 years.

"I think it's fabulous," said Lil Paterson, of Glen Innes, who jumped on a train to travel to the Diwali Hindu festival of lights at the Aotea Centre in downtown Auckland.

"Otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered to come because it is just such a curse to park in town," she said.

Martin McManus, who also came in by train from Meadowbank for the festival with two other adults and five children, also had praise.

"Sunday services are great because the kids love coming on the train ... I think it is going to be really good for Auckland," he said.

Rail operator Connex general manager Chris White said it looked as if there had been a good public uptake of the first Sunday services, possibly helped by the Diwali festival and Auckland marathon.

He said some of the 88 Sunday services on the southern and western lines were quite full. The only hitch was a small grass fire near the Wiri station on the southern line that caused a 28-minute delay.

The Sunday train services will run every 30 minutes between Britomart and Papakura, alternating between the eastern and southern rail lines, and every hour between Britomart and New Lynn on the western line.

The introduction of Sunday services west of New Lynn will have to wait until early 2007, when a $66 million duplication of the line to Henderson will be finished. This is because the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Government rail corridor owner, Ontrack, want to reserve Sundays for the most disruptive construction.