Takaanini Station’s new pedestrian bridge has been officially opened, giving locals a safer way to cross the railway.
Auckland Council Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee chair Andy Baker is pleased to see more progress on the rail network following the recent addition of new stations in Franklin.
“It’s fantastic to be here to open another [part of] our rail network,” says Baker, who is also Franklin’s Ward Councillor. “With the CRL opening, our trains are becoming more frequent, they are faster and they are quieter, so getting people off the tracks and getting vehicles off the tracks is so important.”
The Takaanini Station bridge was officially opened at the same time as another a little further up the line at Te Mahia Station, Manurewa.
Both bridges are part of Auckland Transport’s Rail Level Crossing Programme. Six planned for the area. Transport Minister Chris Bishop, who spoke at the at the opening, says the crossings have been the site of dozens of near misses over the past decade. The bridges replace level crossings and help make way for future train services.
“These are dangerous intersections. They are a risk for passengers, a risk for train drivers and for the wider network,” Bishop says.
“[They] will allow more frequent train services on the Southern Line while improving safety and reducing delays for road users and train passengers.”
The programme aims to further prepare the rail network for the addition of the City Rail Link (CRL), which opens next month.
Updated: since this story went to print, following the official openings on August 11, Te Mahia Station’s bridge became accessible to the general public on August 24; the bridge in Takanini will be accessible from September 12.
