Darren Davis
@darrendavis.bsky.social
A card carrying member of the kiwi diaspora currently planning public transport in SE Queensland. Love transit, cities, travelling, cats and movies.
My latest blog post looks on the bright side of public transport innovations in South Australia’s capital.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Adelaide Public Transport Innovations
Adelaide and public transport innovations rarely appear together in a sentence. But there are some noteworthy achievements from South Australia's capital city. Read on for more on this:
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:27 PM
My latest blog post looks on the bright side of public transport innovations in South Australia’s capital.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#RailNews: Rail level crossings between Wellington and Palmerston North will need to be upgraded before new battery-electric trains can run on the Capital Connection.
Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Level crossing upgrades not included in new regional train plan
Upgrades on some crossings are needed for the regulator to approve more frequent Capital Connection services, but they’re not funded by a $1 billion package.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM
#RailNews: Rail level crossings between Wellington and Palmerston North will need to be upgraded before new battery-electric trains can run on the Capital Connection.
Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Reposted by Darren Davis
An excellent piece by @Darrendavis.bsky.social on the transformation of Auckland’s bus network.
adventuresintransitland.substack.com?utm_source=n...
adventuresintransitland.substack.com?utm_source=n...
Adventures in Transitland | Darren Davis | Substack
Musings about public transport and other cool stuff in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and around the globe. Click to read Adventures in Transitland, by Darren Davis, a Substack publication with hundreds of sub...
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:48 AM
An excellent piece by @Darrendavis.bsky.social on the transformation of Auckland’s bus network.
adventuresintransitland.substack.com?utm_source=n...
adventuresintransitland.substack.com?utm_source=n...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#BusNews: One of Aotearoa's achievements hidden in plain sight is the huge expansion of Tāmaki Makaurau's frequent bus network, making it one of the best, if not the best, in Australasia.
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-freque...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-freque...
The frequentisation of Tāmaki Makaurau
One of Aotearoa's achievements hidden in plain sight is the huge expansion of Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland's frequent bus network, making it one of the best, if not the best, in Australasia.
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
#BusNews: One of Aotearoa's achievements hidden in plain sight is the huge expansion of Tāmaki Makaurau's frequent bus network, making it one of the best, if not the best, in Australasia.
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-freque...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-freque...
Great to see Gold Coast light rail stage 3 really starting to take shape with 60+% of the track and overhead catenary in place and many of the stations well under construction. Should be fully open from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads by mid next year.
November 2, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Great to see Gold Coast light rail stage 3 really starting to take shape with 60+% of the track and overhead catenary in place and many of the stations well under construction. Should be fully open from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads by mid next year.
At the just opened Pimpama Station on SE Queensland’s fast growing Northern Gold Coast. This is the first of three new Gold Coast Line stations to open, to be followed by Hope Island and Merrimac in 2026.
November 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
At the just opened Pimpama Station on SE Queensland’s fast growing Northern Gold Coast. This is the first of three new Gold Coast Line stations to open, to be followed by Hope Island and Merrimac in 2026.
In Brisbane developments, a pic of the beginning of the installation of the Cross River Rail Albert Street Station canopy.
When I moved to Brisbane nearly two years ago, the station was still below ground level so it’s great to see it getting close to its final form.
When I moved to Brisbane nearly two years ago, the station was still below ground level so it’s great to see it getting close to its final form.
November 1, 2025 at 12:05 AM
In Brisbane developments, a pic of the beginning of the installation of the Cross River Rail Albert Street Station canopy.
When I moved to Brisbane nearly two years ago, the station was still below ground level so it’s great to see it getting close to its final form.
When I moved to Brisbane nearly two years ago, the station was still below ground level so it’s great to see it getting close to its final form.
My latest blog post looks back at a tough year for passenger rail patronage in Aotearoa but looks forward to a much brighter future.
#RailNews: The last year has not been a good one for rail patronage in Aotearoa. So what's up and is it going to get better anytime soon?
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/whats-down...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/whats-down...
What's down with rail in Aotearoa?
The last year has not been a good one for rail patronage in Aotearoa. So what's up and is it going to get better anytime soon?
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
My latest blog post looks back at a tough year for passenger rail patronage in Aotearoa but looks forward to a much brighter future.
Reposted by Darren Davis
Switzerland is “rich in something vanishingly rare in the rest of the world: common sense. This is most apparent in the way the Swiss get around…a model of sensible, sustainable — and yes, even enjoyable — transit. It’s simply the best transportation system in the world.” Via @taras-grescoe.com
Anatomy of the Swiss Revolution
How Switzerland Engineered Itself into Becoming the World's Greatest Transit Nation
www.highspeed.blog
October 3, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Switzerland is “rich in something vanishingly rare in the rest of the world: common sense. This is most apparent in the way the Swiss get around…a model of sensible, sustainable — and yes, even enjoyable — transit. It’s simply the best transportation system in the world.” Via @taras-grescoe.com
Pictured are the mid to late evening country train departures from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Something we can only dream about in Aotearoa with our apparent obsession with covering our beautiful country with asphalt.
October 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Pictured are the mid to late evening country train departures from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Something we can only dream about in Aotearoa with our apparent obsession with covering our beautiful country with asphalt.
Stoked to be one of the Kiwi urbanists/ transit nerds on @brenttoderian.bsky.social list of urbanists from outside North America. There are rich pickings of great people to follow on this list so dive on in!
NEW STARTER PACK! This time I’m hoping to encourage and support global urbanists from OUTSIDE North America here on Bluesky, so hopefully this will help! Who’ve I missed? Just joined? Let me know! I’ll keep updating, so please keep checking & sharing this pack! And let’s try using #GlobalUrbanists.
Urbanists OUTSIDE North America Worth Following!
Join the conversation
go.bsky.app
September 30, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Stoked to be one of the Kiwi urbanists/ transit nerds on @brenttoderian.bsky.social list of urbanists from outside North America. There are rich pickings of great people to follow on this list so dive on in!
Reposted by Darren Davis
#RailNews: The Golden Triangle is home to 40% of NZ's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...
Electrifying the Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle of Aotearoa's Upper North Island is home to 40% of the nation's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
#RailNews: The Golden Triangle is home to 40% of NZ's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...
In my latest blog post, I delve into KiwiRail's emerging thinking on the electrification of the Golden Triangle linking Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Electrifying the Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle of Aotearoa's Upper North Island is home to 40% of the nation's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility
open.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 9:31 PM
In my latest blog post, I delve into KiwiRail's emerging thinking on the electrification of the Golden Triangle linking Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#TrainNews: Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system?
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/making-te-...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/making-te-...
Making Te Huia a permanent service
Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system?
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
#TrainNews: Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system?
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/making-te-...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/making-te-...
It’s just over nine months until Te Huia’s five year trial comes to an end in mid-2026. There’s lots to be done to secure it as a permanent service between Auckland and Hamilton. Read on for what this involves.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Making Te Huia a permanent service
Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system?
open.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
It’s just over nine months until Te Huia’s five year trial comes to an end in mid-2026. There’s lots to be done to secure it as a permanent service between Auckland and Hamilton. Read on for what this involves.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
My latest blog post argues that we need to build the market for the new Tūhono battery electric trains coming into service in 2029 & 2030 by making better use of the existing Capital Connection rolling stock to improve services between Palmerston North & Wellington.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Building towards the new Lower North Island trains
We have to wait until 2030 for improved Lower North Island regional train services. What can we do in the meantime to make the existing Capital Connection better?
open.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 6:04 AM
My latest blog post argues that we need to build the market for the new Tūhono battery electric trains coming into service in 2029 & 2030 by making better use of the existing Capital Connection rolling stock to improve services between Palmerston North & Wellington.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#RailNews: Aotearoa is investing $802 million in much needed new hybrid trains for the Lower North Island with a contract awarded to Alstom. Just what does this mean in practice?
Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/all-about-...
Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/all-about-...
All about the new Lower North Island hybrid trains
Aotearoa is investing $802 million in much needed new hybrid trains for the Lower North Island with a contract awarded to Alstom. Just what does this mean in practice?
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
#RailNews: Aotearoa is investing $802 million in much needed new hybrid trains for the Lower North Island with a contract awarded to Alstom. Just what does this mean in practice?
Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/all-about-...
Via Adventures in Transitland by @darrendavis.bsky.social: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/all-about-...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#TrainNews: Alstom has been selected to deliver 18 five-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains.
The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite.
The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.
The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite.
The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.
September 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
#TrainNews: Alstom has been selected to deliver 18 five-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains.
The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite.
The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.
The Train fleet is to be named ‘Tūhono’, meaning connect or unite.
The fleet will be manufactured in India by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service from 2030.
My latest blog post looks at a year in the life of Te Huia, the regional train between Hamilton and Auckland in New Zealand. Here’s hoping that the service becomes permanent when the trial finishes in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
The latest ups and downs of Te Huia
Te Huia, the regional train between Hamilton and Auckland, has had its fair share of ups and down. So read on for the latest on Te Huia.
open.substack.com
July 13, 2025 at 1:47 AM
My latest blog post looks at a year in the life of Te Huia, the regional train between Hamilton and Auckland in New Zealand. Here’s hoping that the service becomes permanent when the trial finishes in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Join me for a quick trip across the motu of public transport developments in Aotearoa/ New Zealand in the first half of 2025.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
A public transport trip across the motu
We're already just about half-way through 2025, so let's do a recap on public transport happenings across Aotearoa in the past six months.
open.substack.com
June 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Join me for a quick trip across the motu of public transport developments in Aotearoa/ New Zealand in the first half of 2025.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#TransportNews: Like the Otago Gold Rush of the 19th Century, its 21st Century counterpart, the gondola rush, has come to town in Queenstown. What is it and will it work?
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via @greaterauckland.bsky.social: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/10/g...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via @greaterauckland.bsky.social: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/10/g...
Gondola Fever Strikes Queenstown! - Greater Auckland
This is a guest post by Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog,
www.greaterauckland.org.nz
June 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#TransportNews: Like the Otago Gold Rush of the 19th Century, its 21st Century counterpart, the gondola rush, has come to town in Queenstown. What is it and will it work?
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via @greaterauckland.bsky.social: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/10/g...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via @greaterauckland.bsky.social: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/10/g...
My latest blog post is my take on the recent proposals for urban gondolas as the solution to Queenstown’s traffic woes. Spoiler alert: I’m not a fan.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Gondola Fever Strikes Queenstown!
Like the Otago Gold Rush of the 19th Century, its 21st Century counterpart, the gondola rush, has come to town in Queenstown. What is it and will it work?
open.substack.com
June 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM
My latest blog post is my take on the recent proposals for urban gondolas as the solution to Queenstown’s traffic woes. Spoiler alert: I’m not a fan.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
Great news. Te Huia to launch Sunday service, meaning Aotearoa/ New Zealand will have a single regional train with a public transport focus running every day of the week. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
All aboard! Te Huia to launch Sunday service
KiwiRail is expected to approve the new service in a few weeks, which could see it running by July 20 after regional councillors gave it the all clear.
www.waikatotimes.co.nz
May 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Great news. Te Huia to launch Sunday service, meaning Aotearoa/ New Zealand will have a single regional train with a public transport focus running every day of the week. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
In spite of the shouty headline, it costs vastly more in fare enforcement than is collected from fare dodgers. And all that enforcement money would be better spent on improving public transport services rather than fining the few who cannot or choose not to pay.
www.1news.co.nz/2025/05/22/a...
www.1news.co.nz/2025/05/22/a...
Auckland Transport losing $6 million a year to fare dodgers
Figures released under the Official Information Act show most of those fined for free rides also aren't paying up.
www.1news.co.nz
May 21, 2025 at 9:07 PM
In spite of the shouty headline, it costs vastly more in fare enforcement than is collected from fare dodgers. And all that enforcement money would be better spent on improving public transport services rather than fining the few who cannot or choose not to pay.
www.1news.co.nz/2025/05/22/a...
www.1news.co.nz/2025/05/22/a...
Reposted by Darren Davis
#RailNews: A quick rundown on the state of the rails across the motu in the lead-up to the 2025 budget on 22 May 2025
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-state-...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-state-...
The state of the rails across Aotearoa
A quick rundown on the state of the rails across the motu in the lead-up to the 2025 budget on 22 May 2025
adventuresintransitland.substack.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:01 PM
#RailNews: A quick rundown on the state of the rails across the motu in the lead-up to the 2025 budget on 22 May 2025
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-state-...
By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/the-state-...