Rail threatens Newmarket street

By MELANIE ALLAN - East And Bays Courier | Friday, 12 October 2007

The closure of Kingdon St to vehicle traffic could be made permanent, Newmarket Business Association general manager Cameron Brewer says.

The section of Kingdon St between Short St and Carlton Gore Rd was closed last weekend to allow for the construction and operation of a temporary rail station to service western line rail passengers.

Another temporary station south of Remuera Rd will operate for passengers on the southern rail line while the main Newmarket station is closed for an upgrade.

Kingdon St will remain closed until at least December 2009 but Mr Brewer says he suspects the closure could become a 'permanent fixture'.

"The western line service is only going to get more frequent and hence problematic for a level crossing," he says.

"What's more with electrification imminent transport authorities will avoid, where they can, having vehicles driving under overhead wires.

"Let's not forget that Kingdon St is a key link street and so the impact of closing it to traffic has yet to be seen."

Mr Brewer says while some affected businesses may have seen Ontrack's public consultation as a fait accompli, the end result of the $70 million rail upgrade will be 'fantastic' for Newmarket.

"Coupled with the $47m bus corridor from the city and the new green Link buses, catching public transport to Newmarket will soon be an attractive option," he says.

The rail upgrade is a project the business association lobbied strongly for, Mr Brewer says.

"It's an exciting time."

Public consultation on the look of Newmarket's new station is expected to start in November. The existing station and precinct will be closed for 18 months from January.