Panmure Train Station - History

History

The Eastern Line was completed in September 1929, and was opened for traffic on 11 May 1930. Panmure Station opened on 16 November 1930, and was situated about 100m west of Ireland Road. A small station building was located in the middle of the station's island platform. At the time of opening, the area surrounding the station was predominantly rural. Access to the station was originally provided by two pedestrian bridges. A ramp from the north end of the platform led to a bridge between Ireland Road and the west side of the station, from where a path provided access to the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway. From the south end of the platform, a bridge provided access from the platform to a path which led to the Mount Wellington Highway.

By the end of the 1950s the area surrounding the station had become substantially more developed. Ireland Place had become a residential street, and there was a mix of residential and light industrial development on Mount Wellington Highway. Several side-streets had been built between Mount Wellington Highway and the railway. Access from the northern bridge to Ireland Road had been removed, and ramps were added from the southern bridge to William Harvey Place (off Mount Wellington Highway) and Ireland Road.

By the turn of the century, Panmure had grown substanstially. The condition of the station, however, had deteriorated. The original station building had benn replaced by a much smaller one, the northern footbridge had been removed, and the platform itself had begun to deteriorate. In addition to this, patronage was low (recorded as being just 83 boardings per day in 2003) and the station was not located close to the town centre. It was therefore decided to close the original Panmure Station and open a new station between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mountain Road. The new station would be more modern, be closer to the town centre, and provide better connections with bus services. The new Panmure Station opened in the first half of 2007. The station has two side platforms, located slightly below road level. Access is from Ellerslie-Panmure Highway, Mountain Road, and the carpark. A park and ride facility and a bus stop are located adjacent to the eastbound platform. The station's relocation had a significant affect on patronage with recorded daily boardings climbing from 268 in 2006 to 446 in 2007.

In October 2011, work began on the AMETI project, with the replacment of the Mountain Road bridge, immediately north of the station. AMETI is a $1.5-billion initiative designed to reduce congestion and improve public transport in Auckland's eastern suburbs. In May 2012, a new pedestrian plaza was built over part of the platforms. The new plaza provides access from the carpark and bus stop to both platforms via stairs.