Auckland Transport is facing a big decision in 2017 as to whether or not it places further orders for more new electric trains.
It says the current rolling stock could reach capacity by 2019.
According to Radio New Zealand News, the $500 million investment in the 57 Spanish-built electric trains has been a huge success, and talk of buying more has come up sooner than previously thought.
Patronage was up 15% on a year earlier, and the rising trend was stronger and lasting longer than original forecast, with annual ridership approaching 20 million trips.
Auckland Transport is considering whether any new trains would be hybrids with batteries. Chief executive David Warburton told Radio New Zealand News, the number of new trains that would be needed was not yet clear.
“It depends whether money is put into electrification to Pukekohe for example, it depends on the frequency of services, it could be anything from 15 to 20-plus trains,” says Warburton.
