PROJECT PLANNING: A Transit Oriented Development in the heart of New Lynn.

New Lynn's newly upgraded underground train station forming an integral part of town centres TOD (ONTRACK 2010).

As part of ONTRACK's Project DART rail upgrade, the Western Line and the New Lynn train station has undergone a major transformation by trenching the tracks underground to allow the seamless movement of vehicles on the road, and to create a TOD in the heart of the New Lynn town centre.

Underground rail trench at the New Lynn Train Station (ONTRACK 2010).

Since I live only a 10minute walk away from the train station, I have personally witnessed this transformation myself right from the beginning, till construction that is still currently going on today. I still have a vivid image of how the old train station looked like in my mind, and comparing it to how it looks today ... and boy! talk about a major upgrade!

The New Lynn bus station is located directly adajacent to the train station in the heart of the town centre, so it is the ideal location for a TOD encouraging people to choose public transport over travelling in private vehicles around the city. With an increasing public conscious over the rise of petrol costs, the recently opened up new train station couldn't have come at a better time!

Living in the area, I have witnessed and experienced a lot of the pros and cons of this rail development.

During construction, there was extensive road closures and detours and a major traffic delays around the train station area. It was virtually every drivers nightmare having to sit in traffic for 10minutes waiting for the light to turn green, all so you could move a couple spots up in the queue.

Since I travel by train to University everyday myself, I've noticed that there has been a significant increase in the number of travellers than before which I'm assuming it is because the train station is much more attractive nowadays, and there are more frquent train services available.

Point being, the upgrade of the New Lynn Train Station has done great things for the New Lynn town centre area because it has essentially created an effective TOD, which the old train station failed to achieve in my opinion.

As a result of this TOD in New Lynn, the town centre has become more lively and I've noticed a significant increase in the foot traffic around the train station area as well.

Once construction is fully completed, I don't doubt that it will be any less attractive or resourceful than Britomart because despite only half is currently unveiled and open for public use, you notice an instanct wow factor the moment you step onto that platform.