Eden Park calls for infrastructure upgrades after rugby train delays

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner have disagreed over the cause of train delays following the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup win over the Wallabies. Thousands of fans experienced waits of up to 40 minutes for city-bound trains at Kingsland Station after the match.

Sautner argued that the rail network requires urgent infrastructure upgrades, specifically mentioning platform improvements at Kingsland and Morningside stations and a pedestrian footbridge across Sandringham Road. He stated that connectivity between the stadium and the rail network has not improved in ten years despite City Rail Link investment.

Mayor Brown countered that the disruption was an operational issue rather than an infrastructure problem. He claimed an initial audit showed the Morningside Drive level crossing was closed 30 minutes later than required by the approved traffic management plan by Eden Park's contractors.

Auckland Transport (AT) confirmed that the delay in closing the level crossing prevented trains from being positioned to depart Kingsland Station on time. AT reported that 15,000 people used rail for the event, while 19,710 people in total used special event public transport.

How it developed

• Tue 13 Oct, 2:48pmMayor Wayne Brown stated that an initial audit indicated the level crossing was closed later than required by Eden Park's traffic management contractor.

Where reports differ

• Sautner attributes the delays to a need for infrastructure upgrades like a footbridge, while Brown attributes them to operational failures by contractors to follow the traffic management plan

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, 1News, RNZ, Stuff and Otago Daily Times.