Train fare to double for Auckland-Hamilton

Te Huia Train still expects consistent passengers despite ticket prices doubling at the end of June, though at least one is not so sure.

From June 31^st, the Intercity train travelling from Hamilton to Auckland will be ending their half price scheme which has been running since New Zealand hit COVID-19 alert level red. The average price of $9 will now rise to $18.

“The morning services are particularly filled with a lot of students and workers”, said duty manager Telea Alexander.

She said that “despite the price rise, the capacity of passengers won’t change", as it is “still cheaper than Intercity (bus)”, which is another popular service taken by Hamilton and Auckland residents.

The Intercity Bus prices range from $18, same as the future Te Huia price, to $50.

Natasha Iese, a former Hamilton resident who now lives in Auckland, has used both train and bus to her hometown but says she is unsure whether she will be taking Te Huia just as much.

Iese, an Auckland University student, regularly takes Te Huia as “$9 for a train ride home was so cheap and convenient”.

“I’ll decide which service to take depending on price and time as Te Huia may be cheaper still at $18 but the Intercity Bus service has more locations to drop off to, as well as buses running constantly through the day unlike Te huia which only runs twice a day”.

Te Huia proposes to have new stations and rapid rail as a part of their ‘future of Te huia’ plans however, this only includes 3 new stations in South Auckland by 2026 and rapid rail with existing rail infrastructure care.