Driver illness and shortages means more bus replacements for trains across Auckland
Kia ora Neighbours,
Buses will replace trains this weekend, but on a reduced schedule to account for drivers falling sick.
All Auckland Transport trains will be swapped out with buses this weekend (starting Friday at 9.30pm on the Western Line), as KiwiRail has essential maintenance to complete.
Those replacement buses will be less frequent that normal on the Eastern, Southern and Western Lines "while driver shortage and high rates of driver sickness continue," AT says.
AT Group Manager Metro Services Darek Koper says he knows it's frustrating but drivers cannot be asked to work while ill.
“We all know friends or family members who are being knocked about at the moment by winter illnesses, whether it’s COVID-19, the flu, or a bad cold doing the rounds,” said Koper.
“We’re asking Aucklanders to be patient and understanding as we work with our operators to hire and train more drivers, but for the meantime we will unfortunately see more disruption to our services this winter.”
The best way to keep up with network changes is through the AT Mobile app or via the journey planner online.
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.5% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.4% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???
“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.
On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.
[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.
Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.
Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”
Full article: www.theguardian.com...
If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.
Rock'in with Elvis by Mike Cole
The Memories of Elvis Fan Club invite you to our 1st Elvis Social for 2026. We are excited to have our own Mike Cole back at the Te Atatu RSA on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm. Cost only $20pp. Tickets are on sale at the RSA or reserve through Jackie 0274901126. So lets see you with your dancing shoes on and that great smile as we start off 2026 with a bang.
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