The New Zealand Herald / March 7, 2007
Brian Rudman: Trouble in train - again and again and again
On Monday when a Westie colleague rolled his eyes at my plan to catch a train to Henderson, I should have taken the hint. He’s always regaling me with tales of woe from the Western Line. But his trip that morning had been untoward. “If you must do it, you’ve chosen a good day.”
I was off for a guided tour of Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey’s pride and joy, the new city headquarters, complete with integrated transport centre. A quick walk down to the Britomart station from my office and, hey presto, 42 minutes later, up the escalator and into Bob’s empire. How could I go any other way?
At 11.29am, we powered out of the station on time, past the Vector Arena and along the back of the Domain to Newmarket. Well almost to Newmarket. Just shy of the signal box we came to a halt. The guard announces a 10-15 minute delay due to signal problems. Forty minutes later and about the time I’m supposed to be beginning the mayoral tour, we’re told we’ll be there for another 15 minutes. Three trains are stuck up ahead and the signals and points have to be hand-cranked back and forth for each.
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