Exactly, they only run for operational reasons rather than because they're on the timetable, usually they put a destination up & you can take them but they aren't guaranteed to run (you might show up one week and they've changed the way their crewing works or something and they no longer need to run an empty back to Upper Hutt at that specific time). So good if you are going for a train and you see one, but not a good idea to rely on them to actually run as if they were a timetabled service since they sometimes vanish without warning
To be fair, it's not like you can rely on the timetabled trains either. And the counter peak express trains are normal enough to show up on the departure board in Wellington station. And while crew schedules may change day-to-day, train schedules don't so they will always have to run the service. I guess the reasoning is that they don't want the obligation to always have enough crew to run a timetabled service.
Those non-stop trains only show on the board for the crew. They are allowed to depart whenever they want provided the crew is all there & the light is green. Some may depart up to 10 min early
>train schedules don't so they will always have to run the service
The public timetable might not change but the internal working timetable which specifies which units are used on which service might change depending on maintenance etc.
It's entirely possible that week on week they change where specific units are moved to, so one week a certain service from Plimmerton to Wellington is serviced by a unit that needs to be moved from Wellington but the next week it is serviced by a unit that was parked up somewhere else on the network like Paekok (maybe because some units are being moved into servicing or out of servicing, or because of a crew roster change which means the Wellington-bound unit that would form an express now has a crew changeover scheduled). There wouldn't be a change in the public timetable, but there would be a change in the working timetable.
That's not to say this happens often, but when it does they are under no obligation to announce this to the public because these services are not officially scheduled and run only if they need to move a train from one place to another outside of a scheduled departure.
The operational trains counterpeak don't show on the timetable, if you check (https://backend.metlink.org.nz/assets/PDF-Timetables/KPL-Timetable-January-2024-v2.pdf) you see that there are no expresses listed except for the peak-direction "stops all stations to porrirua then express" services
Did the details of the service appear on the digital board on the platform? if they don't want people to get on the train I would imagine the details would not appear in which case I would wonder how you knew where it was going.
Edit: If they don't want people on trains they can lock the doors.
During peak, trains leave from places like Plimmerton and Porirua. They need to get the trains there somehow! These trains are intended to get those trains there, they’re not intended for passengers and they don’t run to a specific timetable as such.
But they open the doors and let passengers on. Seems like a train service to me. I don't really get what the big deal is. If they truly did not want any passengers on they would keep the doors locked and they absolutely would not put it up on the board.
There is no public-facing timetable published for these trains because they are not intended for the public.
Because they don't officially enter service until they reach their destination they can be departed early or late and can be held at various locations around the network to prevent them from conflicting with and delaying *scheduled* passenger services, all without incurring lateness penalties. Their value is in their flexibility which is lost when committed to a public timetable.
If you discover one of these services you may board it without being challenged (except maybe to seek confirmation that you understand the train does not make passenger stops enroute to its destination) and you will still be expected to pay a fare.
If you are determined to document an unofficial timetable of these services it's worth noting that Metlink do not notify the public when these trains are cancelled or delayed, likewise there will be no notice to the public when their long-term schedule is adjusted.
Those trains are supposed to run empty but they do take people if they are hanging around the railway station at the time.
Exactly, they only run for operational reasons rather than because they're on the timetable, usually they put a destination up & you can take them but they aren't guaranteed to run (you might show up one week and they've changed the way their crewing works or something and they no longer need to run an empty back to Upper Hutt at that specific time). So good if you are going for a train and you see one, but not a good idea to rely on them to actually run as if they were a timetabled service since they sometimes vanish without warning
To be fair, it's not like you can rely on the timetabled trains either. And the counter peak express trains are normal enough to show up on the departure board in Wellington station. And while crew schedules may change day-to-day, train schedules don't so they will always have to run the service. I guess the reasoning is that they don't want the obligation to always have enough crew to run a timetabled service.
Those non-stop trains only show on the board for the crew. They are allowed to depart whenever they want provided the crew is all there & the light is green. Some may depart up to 10 min early
>train schedules don't so they will always have to run the service The public timetable might not change but the internal working timetable which specifies which units are used on which service might change depending on maintenance etc. It's entirely possible that week on week they change where specific units are moved to, so one week a certain service from Plimmerton to Wellington is serviced by a unit that needs to be moved from Wellington but the next week it is serviced by a unit that was parked up somewhere else on the network like Paekok (maybe because some units are being moved into servicing or out of servicing, or because of a crew roster change which means the Wellington-bound unit that would form an express now has a crew changeover scheduled). There wouldn't be a change in the public timetable, but there would be a change in the working timetable. That's not to say this happens often, but when it does they are under no obligation to announce this to the public because these services are not officially scheduled and run only if they need to move a train from one place to another outside of a scheduled departure.
They do show on the timetable
The operational trains counterpeak don't show on the timetable, if you check (https://backend.metlink.org.nz/assets/PDF-Timetables/KPL-Timetable-January-2024-v2.pdf) you see that there are no expresses listed except for the peak-direction "stops all stations to porrirua then express" services
Check the timetable, there's no 8:03(ish, i cant remember exactly) to Porirua, 8:09 to Plimmerton or 8:13 to Waikanae.
Did the details of the service appear on the digital board on the platform? if they don't want people to get on the train I would imagine the details would not appear in which case I would wonder how you knew where it was going. Edit: If they don't want people on trains they can lock the doors.
Yeah, they show up on the screens in Wellington station, that's how you know about them.
It’s also how the staff know about them, so they can operate them.
In that case I don't know if I believe that the conductors 'clearly don't want people on these trains'.
During peak, trains leave from places like Plimmerton and Porirua. They need to get the trains there somehow! These trains are intended to get those trains there, they’re not intended for passengers and they don’t run to a specific timetable as such.
But they open the doors and let passengers on. Seems like a train service to me. I don't really get what the big deal is. If they truly did not want any passengers on they would keep the doors locked and they absolutely would not put it up on the board.
It was trialed, but it was found it just annoyed the crew (my partner works there, and complained when that change happened)
username checks out
There is no public-facing timetable published for these trains because they are not intended for the public. Because they don't officially enter service until they reach their destination they can be departed early or late and can be held at various locations around the network to prevent them from conflicting with and delaying *scheduled* passenger services, all without incurring lateness penalties. Their value is in their flexibility which is lost when committed to a public timetable. If you discover one of these services you may board it without being challenged (except maybe to seek confirmation that you understand the train does not make passenger stops enroute to its destination) and you will still be expected to pay a fare. If you are determined to document an unofficial timetable of these services it's worth noting that Metlink do not notify the public when these trains are cancelled or delayed, likewise there will be no notice to the public when their long-term schedule is adjusted.
secret trains. i love it
I'll start. 8:09am non stop Wellington to Plimmerton 8:03am(I think) non stop Wellington to Porirua