Newmarket Train Station, Auckland

Infobox Station
name=Newmarket Train Station
type=MAXX Urban rail

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image_size=
image_caption=MAXX DC class 4369 pushing a SA/SD carriage train at Newmarket, November 2006.
address=Remuera Road, Newmarket, Auckland City
coordinates=coord|36|52.2|S|174|46.7|E|
line=North Auckland Line
Newmarket Branch
other=
structure
platform=Island
levels=
tracks=Mainline (2)
parking=No
bicycle=Yes
baggage_check=No
passengers=
pass_year=
pass_percent=
pass_system=
opened=1873
closed=January 2008
rebuilt=January 2008 - ????
electrified=No
ADA=
code=
owned=ONTRACK and ARTA
zone=
former=Newmarket Junction
services=s-note|text=ONTRACK
mpassengers=

Newmarket Train Station is on the Southern and Western Lines of the Auckland railway network. In its historic configuration, it had an island platform, reached by a ramp from Remuera Road (opposite Nuffield Street) and from the end of Joseph Banks Terrace by a pedestrian overbridge. In 2008 the station was removed, with a new station being constructed on the same site. The new and extended train station will cater for increased train patronage and also have more entrances.

During the redevelopment two temporary stations service the area; Newmarket West (also called or "Kingdon Street" and Newmarket South.

History

The railway station building was one of four island platform stations in Auckland designed and built by George Troup, Chief Engineer for the New Zealand Railways Department. The station was built in 1908, at the time of the installation of double track. The signal box at the north end of the platform was built at the same time and was one of the few of that era in New Zealand on its original site and still in operation. It closed in early 2008 as part of project DART, being the last full sized lever frame signal boxs on the national network

Layout

Overview of old Station

This station is near Newmarket Junction, the junction of the Western and Southern Lines. Prior to the station's redevelopment, trains coming from Britomart had to run past the junction to call at this station.

The old station had two platforms in a island configuration. For many years all city-bound trains stopped at one platform, with outwards trains stopping at the other platform. This was confusing as the outward-bound platform served all trains on both the Southern and Western Lines. This problem was solved by 'splitting' the platform into two: Southern Line trains stopped at the southern end of the platform, Western Line at the northern end. However the platform was short, so that this did not always resolve the confusion.

The above practice has become less prevalent following the higher frequency of the July 2007 timetable. From then on the signal person typically directed trains to whichever platform was free at the time of arrival. That meant any trains could arrive at any platform without any indication of destination. Off-peak, the signaling would usually follow the traditional practice, but during the peak this was not practical. This led to problems of passenger confusion as to which train runs on which line.

During peak times Veolia staff were often present with megaphones to inform passengers of trains destinations. The signal box was attended 24 hours per day and had control of all trains within the station and Junction.Fact|date=December 2007

Backshunt

For many years Western Line trains had to reverse into a special siding, which then allowed them to enter the Western Line (to Waitakere) or the Southern Line (to Newmarket). In July 2007 the "backshunt" procedure ceased to be necessary, with the start of the station's rebuilding as part of Project DART.

Services

The station is the second-busiest train station in Auckland, after Britomart. All express services stop here, including the Pukekohe and Waitakere expresses."Passenger Railway Stations of Auckland's Southern Line 2005" by Sean Millar]

Station redevelopment

Newmarket station is to be redeveloped as part of ONTRACKs Project DART. The majority of proposed works centre around improving connections between the station and the surrounding commercial and residential areas and bringing the station's appearance and facilities up to modern standards. The station building was rather dilapidated and of insufficient size to serve the growing Newmarket demands.

Temporary Stations/Platforms

During the station redevelopment two temporary stations were built to service the area; Newmarket West (also called or Kingdon Street and Newmarket South.

Future Layout

Integral to the redevelopment is the requirement to reorganise the trackwork servicing the station. The new station has twin island platforms with three tracks."Public invited to inspect ambitious rail junction plan at open days" - "New Zealand Herald", Thursday 1 November 2007, Page A7] The outer faces of each platform would serve Southern Line trains, the inner faces on the centre track Western Line trains in both directions. The station will cost an estimated NZ$25 million to redevelop (paid for by ARTA), and ONTRACK will spend around NZ$45 million to change the layout. The project has been called the most challenging in the whole upgrade of Auckland's railway network.

Pedestrian access

The new station will have access points to the concourse to be built above the platforms along a rebuilt bridge from Remuera Road (southern side) and via a bridge from Joseph Banks Terrace from the Remuera (eastern) side. Future accesses will be via a plaza between the new buildings currently (2007) being erected on former railway land between Broadway and Remuera Road (western side) and via a possible future access from the Broadway (northwest) side over an extended concourse to the north of the station, linking up with the main street over the existing tunnel south of the Olympic Pools area.

Historic building

The fate of the historically and architecturally significant old station building is controversial, with various proposals having been put forward to demolish, refurbish, or relocate the building. Following the announcement on 14 March 2007] of the budget for the station's upgrade, cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10428642| title= New Zealand Herald, 14 March 2007:Delight at Government's decision to reopen Onehunga line | accessdate=2007-04-04] , Minister of Finance Michael Cullen announced that $5 million would be put towards moving the station building, possibly to a new site in Parnell where it could serve as a station for the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Auckland Domain. The station building and signal box were removed from the site on 3 March 2008. The storage location was not disclosed, as ONTRACK fears the buildings be vandalised. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10496187|title=Station lifted to secret location|author=Matthew Dearnaley
publisher=The New Zealand Herald|date=5 March 2008|accessdate=2008-03-05]

References