Behind Swanson station is actually a disused line, called the Helensville line. The Helensville line closed in 2008 due to low ridership, but a small part of the line was kept, up to Waitakere station, which is just up the line from Swanson. But that station was closed in 2016 after the eletrafacation of the network, due to there being a bridge that was too low to put wires.
The reason for different seat color is because we have two different batches of AMs in service. One from the original order and another from a second order. There is a third order on the way and they'll have a slightly different interior for better fire protection in the CRL tunnels. The older sets will be upgraded.
15:30 That is the Mt Eden prison to your left right there. It looks so old but there is a modern bit further up the hill. 19:08 Yep 29:47 Guess who's back, back again
There is a Perth connection to this (and all other existing Auckland lines). The trains that ran along here in the 1990s and early 2000s were all former Perth sets.
29:03 Fun fact, in the mid 2000s Bob Harvey - mayor of the then Waitakere council - actually took a delegation over to Perth to check out Subiaco station as part of the lobbying for New Lynn station to be sunken.
It was even more insane before Newmarket was rebuilt about 15 years ago. Western line followed the same route map... but there was no connection between Newmarket and the tracks out west (being a purely north-west junction and not the north-west-south wye like it is today). So the trains had to change direction twice at Newmarket. Running from the city into Newmarket, reversing back towards the city, stopping at the junction, and reversing a second time to run onto the curve.
I remember taking the train with my grandfather back in 2012 and back then the first station in the western line was Waitakere and not Swanson. Those were the good old days :)
Most of the time theres another driver to take over waiting at the other end of the platform when you reverse at Newmarket. Only time you see them change ends would be off peak every now and again.
Amazing that the 70km Mandurah line takes less time than this 25km line. It really goes to show how little investment went into Auckland's network (luckily changing now) and how much investment went into Perth's.
That looks like a very scenic trip. The stations looks well maintained too. I'll have to visit.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into your channel Mark. Always enjoy them, especially the NZ vlogs.
Much nicer stations and better maintained infra than Melbourne
That coupling was really cool and quick too
Behind Swanson station is actually a disused line, called the Helensville line. The Helensville line closed in 2008 due to low ridership, but a small part of the line was kept, up to Waitakere station, which is just up the line from Swanson. But that station was closed in 2016 after the eletrafacation of the network, due to there being a bridge that was too low to put wires.
Yeah I mentioned the part about Waitakere with the text when we pulled into Parnell Station. It was 2015 when it closed.
0:50 there are many places that have trams. For example, motat in Auckland has them and so does Christchurch.
@@xtremegamer8351 Yeah I meant like an actual suburban network not a tourist thing.
The reason for different seat color is because we have two different batches of AMs in service. One from the original order and another from a second order.
There is a third order on the way and they'll have a slightly different interior for better fire protection in the CRL tunnels. The older sets will be upgraded.
15:30 That is the Mt Eden prison to your left right there. It looks so old but there is a modern bit further up the hill.
19:08 Yep
29:47 Guess who's back, back again
There is a Perth connection to this (and all other existing Auckland lines). The trains that ran along here in the 1990s and early 2000s were all former Perth sets.
Yeah I read about that it's pretty cool.
29:03 Fun fact, in the mid 2000s Bob Harvey - mayor of the then Waitakere council - actually took a delegation over to Perth to check out Subiaco station as part of the lobbying for New Lynn station to be sunken.
Oh wow cool!
It was even more insane before Newmarket was rebuilt about 15 years ago.
Western line followed the same route map... but there was no connection between Newmarket and the tracks out west (being a purely north-west junction and not the north-west-south wye like it is today). So the trains had to change direction twice at Newmarket. Running from the city into Newmarket, reversing back towards the city, stopping at the junction, and reversing a second time to run onto the curve.
Oh wow that is so bad... And what if it was a six car train they just had to walk out on the tracks?
@TransportofPerth oh... it was two car DMUs back then or right at end push-pull loco trains.
@@VhenRaTheRaptor Oh yeah of course.
Wow being Australian, I didn't expect a city in small New Zealand to be so developed, even the bus system is good!!
I remember taking the train with my grandfather back in 2012 and back then the first station in the western line was Waitakere and not Swanson. Those were the good old days :)
@@ninjapirate123 Yeah sad they don't go there anymore.
@@TransportofPerth It was due to that tunnel right?
@@ninjapirate123 Yes they couldn't fit electrifying equipment through it.
Most of the time theres another driver to take over waiting at the other end of the platform when you reverse at Newmarket. Only time you see them change ends would be off peak every now and again.
Oh well they did change ends here. I don't know the norms of the network I was discovering it myself for the first time.
Amazing that the 70km Mandurah line takes less time than this 25km line. It really goes to show how little investment went into Auckland's network (luckily changing now) and how much investment went into Perth's.
Yeah exactly. The Mandurah Line is really a piece of Australian public transport to look up to.
The level crossings need to be removed. The Eastern line and a good portion of the Southern line don't.
First yeet