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The wait is over for Franklin commuters, with Drury and Paerata’s new railway stations officially opened at the weekend.
The platforms were buzzing on Saturday as people gathered to trial the new rail connection ahead of the first passenger services scheduled for the following day.
Paerata Rise’s executive director, Chris Johnston is pleased to see the station supported and open for business.
“Pulling into and out of our own train station for the first time was quite exciting,” Johnston says.
With growth in the pipeline for both Paerata and Drury, Johnston says the stations will be essential in supporting that growth for businesses while also giving residents a realistic alternative to driving when travelling elsewhere in the region.
“We have wanted to be more centred around the railway rather than being so reliant on the roads,” he says. “The ease of hopping on an efficient rail system is going to be absolutely brilliant!”
The services connect to Auckland’s Southern Line, with new bus routes linking communities including Paerata Rise, Ramarama, Waiuku, Glenbrook and Pukekohe.
Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker says the opening sees a welcome return to passenger rail travel in the area after more than five decades without a local station.
“It’s been more than 50 years since there was a train station in Drury and since then we’ve seen a huge transformation on Auckland’s rail network, as well as in our communities,” Baker says.
With the City Rail Link opening in the coming weeks, commuters from Drury and Paerata can expect a train every 10 minutes during peak times – which Baker says will make more journeys across Auckland easier.
The opening of the stations coincides with improvements to bus services and routes connecting communities to the rail network.
Both Drury and Paerata stations have 350 park-and-ride spaces, with room for more in the future, as well as pick-up and drop-off areas and facilities for cyclists and motorcyclists.
