Breakdown at Britomart station causes 'chaos'
By Patrice Dougan @PatriceDougan
10:51 AM Thursday Dec 11, 2014
How Britomart station should normally look - when trains are running. File photo / Greg Bowker
A broken-down train is causing delays to all services in and out of Auckland's Britomart station, with commuters describing "total chaos" this morning.
The eastern line train broke down at 8.50am in the Parnell tunnel.
Hundreds of passengers have been told to disembark onto the Newmarket platform.
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An Auckland Transport spokesman said because there were only two train lines in and out of the Britomart station the broken down locomotive had caused "some delays to other services while that train is moved".
Pushed on how many services were affected, he declined to give an exact number but said "all services" in and out of the station were experiencing some form of delay.
One commuter described the situation unfolding at Newmarket train station as the "passenger transport version of Saturday's Harbour Bridge gridlock".
"Hundreds of Britomart-bound commuters forced to disembark because a train has broken down in the Parnell tunnel. Total chaos and misinformation and slow response," he said.
On Saturday afternoon Auckland traffic ground to a stand-still after a collision between three motorcyclists and a truck. The midday crash left three people with serious injuries, closing three of the Harbour Bridge's four northbound lanes for three hours, and causing a ripple of congestion across the city's streets, roads and motorways. Some motorists spent up to four hours stuck in the traffic jam.
The Kingslander commuter said: "Passengers on the inbound western line train were told to alight at Newmarket and get on another train, which was packed. Two minutes later we all had to get off.
"Ticket collectors and security staff didn't know what was going on. We stood around in confusion with no indication of whether or when any train would get through to Britomart.
"Most people eventually walked out and caught a bus."
By Patrice Dougan @PatriceDougan
- NZME.
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