It's a green light for big changes as the Transport Minister adopts new recommendations from an independent report to proactively manage the network's fatigued assets.
A report last year into the Auckland Metro Rail Network described it as “fragmented” and “disaggregated” with no asset management plan and a passive safety regulator.
Transport Minister Michael Wood has now received eight recommendations from the second and final phase of that report on what could be done to get the system running more smoothly before the City Rail Link opens.
The recommendations are to do with governance, incentives, funding, and capacity and capability.
The reports by Deloitte were commissioned by Wood after the network suffered massive disruption in 2019 and 2020 due to rolling contact fatigue – a form of wear and tear on the tracks.
Auckland Transport and Kiwirail undertook in-house work to understand the technical reasons why the fatigue had developed, but the independent investigation was asked to go bigger with Wood asking the firm to identify systemic funding and governance issues that may have contributed to the problem.
Deloitte found the Metro Rail Network had grown significantly in usage, asset value and strategic importance over the years, but the management of it had not kept up.
“Unclear roles and responsibilities under the Metropolitan Rail Operating Model, ineffective checks and balances, and insufficient capability, capacity and resources did not enable the system to evolve in line with growing demands.
“The system also lacked an enduring vision and plan under a disaggregated model,” the report read.
It also revealed funding constraints and the lack of a comprehensive asset management plan as challenges.
“The funding model focused on short term affordability and did not enable catch up renewals or investment in capability and capacity to deliver ongoing maintenance and renewals for the long term,'' according to the report.
“There is no detailed and integrated above and below rail asset management plan for the AMRN system, optimising the total cost of ownership based on agreed levels of service… The shift to a proactive maintenance regime that is necessary for a modern metro system was described by interviewees as a significant challenge.”
In addition the report found the regulator, Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, was passive and “lacked the maturity and resourcing to clarify its role and work proactively”.
“It is increasingly active as a regulator, but there remains room for improvement. This improvement would be supported by clearer definition of its proposed regulatory model and maturity journey,'' the report said.
Kiwirail and Auckland Transport both told Deloitte something had to change.
“KiwiRail and AT acknowledge that the current model for administering the metro network is inadequate for managing the period of intense disruption to improve the standard of the network before CRL opens, and for delivering the level of service that will be expected when CRL opens.”
“Having City Rail Link open and then have to shut the network down would be embarrassing.” – Matt Lowrie, public transport advocate
Public transport advocate Matt Lowrie told Newsroom it was critical all parties started to provide some answers on what the way forward was.
“I think the main takeaway is there’s still a lot of unknowns. It’s unknown how we’re going to fund it, what the plan is, what the focus is… and for those who use and rely on the rail network it’s critical we get these answers.”
“It’s really important we have some transparency around this.”
He said the opening of the City Rail Link was putting a timer on getting the systemic issues sorted.
“Having City Rail Link open and then have to shut the network down would be embarrassing.”
In an answer to a select committee about its “Day 1 readiness challenges” earlier this year, CRL reported only one thing - alignment of wider network projects and their interfaces to the opening of City Rail Link.
It is expected to open in mid-2025.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said Auckland Transport, Kiwirail and other rail participants were working to consider the recommendations and improve co-ordination and oversight of the rail system.
He said he welcomed the attention being given to the need for regular maintenance.
Auckland Transport and Kiwirail did not respond when approached for comment.
