Angela Strange: Waikato Regional Councillor on changes to the Te Huia train line

Change is coming to the Auckland-Hamilton train, Te Huia, which will no longer stop at Papakura. 

The train will instead call into Pukekohe, in a move to improve efficiency for North Waikato residents. 

Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange talks to Mike Hosking about the change. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Change coming to everyone's favorite train, the to Whui. You
haven't talked about the to Whuia so far this year.
So as of this morning, no longer stops at Papakura.
Sorry Papakura. We'll call in at Pokacoe. Are the way
Katto Regional counselor Angel strangers back? Will this angel a
very good morning to you?

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, a good morning bye.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Now Poka Coe's had an upgrade park and ride and
all that sort of stuff. Is this part of the
reason you've done this?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah? Absolutely. The other reason is our residents within North Waikato. Yeah,
we're really came for them to easily access to Huia. Also,
Popikoe residents getting a limited stop service and Auckland.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Is Papakura gutted.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
There's there's been some disappointment there.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, but what can you do? So you're still you're
still only doing one stop. So it's Hamilton, Poka Coe,
next stop Auckland or not.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
So it's Hamilton, two stops in Hamilton, Huntley, Popikoe, Poeanoi
and then into the strand.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay, how long is it taking? Is it taking faster
than a car yet or not?

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, that depends on the time of day, Mike, what
is great about to who he is that you have
that guaranteed arrival time, which is fantastic. Yeah, with Papakota
and Pokkui, we unfortunately we couldn't do both. Every time
you stop, you lose five minutes and we know that,
as you say, time is really crucial.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, right, So time and delay? Do you keep those stats?
Does it arrive on time?

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yes, yes, it does, apart from when there's things out
of our control. So we work as hard as we
can and the staff at Key we Rail are awesome,
but often things just don't go to plan.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
No, So do you keep those stats and when you
arrive on time and don't arrive on time? So you
get an overarching.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Sort of picture, Yeah, yep, we do, and yeah we
look to address those issues. Yeah, when we see a
pattern developing, so yep, definitely keep an.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
Eye on that.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
So twenty four thousand last year passengers, is that up significantly?

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yes? Yes? Sorry, every year since the Joe has launched,
we've been making steady games on the patronage. Obviously, we've
been shut down since just before Christmas, so we've been
back at it a week and I'm really excited to
see where patronage grows this year, especially with their Pockey
Couey stop in our north Way Kuto residence and Auckland

(02:23):
residents being able to access.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
That fantastic go well, Angela, angela strange, excuse me, who's
the workout our regional counselor always arrives on time? Sit
those times when it.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Doesn't or indeed doesn't arrive at all because it couldn't
because it wasn't due to one of those things out
of their control exactly.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
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