Commuter rail patronage in Auckland continues to break records, despite reliability problems, as the city prepares to replace the last of its diesel-powered trains.
Commuters wait to board a south-bound train. Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
The latest figures show rail use up 22 percent, to 13.5 million rail trips in the past year, and overall public transport use up 10 percent.
The rail rise follows a boost in the number of services in summer and the progressive introduction of larger electric trains.
Auckland Transport is speeding up the phasing out of the old, more unreliable, diesel trains, and the move to all electric has been brought forward to July.