Frustrated Aucklanders are lashing out at transport officials after realising they won't be able to catch a train to the mass vaccination event in Manukau this weekend.
Despite public transport being free for anyone registered to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at the first event of its kind in New Zealand, it coincides with a planned closure of the city's Eastern Line.
The event is being held at the Vodafone Events Centre, but first participants have been told to arrive at the Manukau Institute of Technology campus on the corner of Davies Ave and Manukau Rd - which just happens to be right next to the Manukau train station. From there they will be bussed to the Vodafone Events Centre to get their jabs.
Emails sent to the 16,000 people registered for the event encouraged them to use public transport to minimise the risk of traffic problems - but failed to mention trains won't be an option on Saturday and Sunday.
"Kiwi Rail really do make it hard 2 luv rail," one person tweeted. KiwiRail owns the network, and is in charge of maintenance and upgrades. "I was really looking forward 2 making an afternoon of it... But alas we’ll be driving 2 th train station 4 a mass public health exercise."
"Driving to a 'Mass' event sounds...bad," said another. "Imagine the parking chaos!"
"Stoked to get an invite to the Manukau mass vacc event this weekend. Not stoked to find the trains aren’t running," said a third.
Auckland Transport (AT) told Newshub that KiwiRail booked in the closure at the start of the year for "critical rail maintenance". The Auckland rail network has undergone frequent disruption of late due to upgrades, maintenance and faults.
"The authorities were advised of this when planning the event this weekend," said spokesperson Mark Hannan.
Organisers of the vaccination event confirmed to Newshub they were aware of the rail closure during planning, but remain confident it won't be a problem.
"Yes we were aware of the train cancellations this weekend, Rail replacement bus services have been put on by Auckland Transport and they have also increased the number of local buses coming to and from Manukau Station. We have worked closely with Auckland Transport to ensure that people can get to MIT easily," a spokesperson for the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre told Newshub.
AT said it has increased the frequency of buses servicing the rail line between Otahuhu and Manukau to every 10 minutes.
"We are confident there will be enough capacity," said Hannan.
Rail replacement buses are slower than trains, however. A trip from Britomart to Manukau via bus this weekend will take one hour and 11 minutes - much longer than the usual 37-minute trip on the train.
"I know a lot of people would rather avoid buses than the plague, but this still looks like a better deal," one person tweeted.
For those not keen to brave the bus, health officials say there is "plenty of car parking within walking distance of MIT Manukau, such as Ronwood Avenue Car Park and Manukau Station Rd Car Park".
Only people with a disability sticker can drive directly to the Vodafone Events Centre, where the vaccinations will be administered. The whole process - from arriving at MIT, getting vaccinated and returning to MIT - should take about an hour.
RNZ reported on Friday morning the event was off to a smooth start.
