Enhancing customer experience with upgraded public transport

The upgraded Panmure Rail Station is an essential part of the AMETI (Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative) project. It’s now a well-used public transport interchange.

Rapidly expanding communities combined with a lack of public transport options saw Auckland Transport launch AMETI. This long-term strategic initiative aims to provide multiple transport options for the communities of the AMETI corridor (including Mt Wellington to Panmure, Panmure to Pakuranga, and Pakuranga to Botany).

The Panmure Rail Station is a public transport interchange for customers transferring to or from rail and bus journeys. The interchange has significantly reduced travel times from the eastern suburbs to Auckland’s CBD from the long bus commute.

For this innovatively designed station, we did the structural and fire and traffic engineering design plus construction observation. As part of the challenge, the station was built in a fully operational live rail and traffic environment.

The building is a glass-clad framed structure featuring a dramatic winged roof with extensive glazing showcasing views of Mt Wellington. The concourse is accessed via a wind lobby, which is future proofed to allow integrated ticketing.

Architectural features like a platform green wall and compass rooflight artwork make the station as beautiful to look at as it is to use. The station improvements extend beyond the building – there’s also an extensive tiered landscaped plaza for commuters and visitors to enjoy and a new cycle shelter planned.

Integrated with the station is the bus interchange, built on a Beca-designed new grade separation bridge adjacent to a similar new highway bridge—both with spans future-proofed for three tracks.

Awards

• 2016 CORE Conference on Rail Excellence Best Paper Award
• 2015 ACENZ Innovate Silver Award
• 2015 BEST Award
• 2015 NZIA Local Award
• 2015 Excellence in Steel Construction Award
• 2015 PMINZ Public Sector Project of the Year Award - Finalist
• 2014 IPENZ Engineering Excellence Award for Community Engagement

Image courtesy of Auckland Transport