Vandal raid devastates train station

By STUART DYE transport reporter

A scene of devastation greeted rail users at a suburban train station yesterday.

Just a week after the first trains rolled to and from Auckland city centre's new Britomart terminal, vandals struck at Mt Albert Station.

It is estimated that thousands of dollars of damage was caused as windows were smashed, graffiti sprayed and platform shelters attacked.

The onslaught has prompted further calls from transport pressure groups for upgrading work on suburban stations to be completed.

Cameron Pitches, spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport, said people would be put off using the rail network if the facilities were not up to scratch.

"Three stations are supposed to have been upgraded but the funding was held back by Infrastructure Auckland," he said.

"Britomart is all good, but security for the existing stations needs to be implemented to encourage people to use the facilities."

Police are investigating the vandalism.