'Very disappointing': Warriors fans stranded after semi-final by incorrect AT poster

Auckland Transport (AT) is apologising to passengers stranded after the Warriors game despite being promised a replacement bus. 

Frank Wang told the Herald he, his partner and their 9-year-old son were left waiting in the cold and dark at Penrose Station after Sunday’s semi-final loss at Eden Park. 

The Onehunga family chose to use public transport but had to Uber home after the bus never showed. 

“It was very disappointing ... hopefully it’ll get better because it was kind of unacceptable just to leave a whole bunch of people stranded on a cold, windy night and figuring out how to get home,” Wang said. 

An AT spokesperson said the “alternative transport” poster at Penrose Station was wrong and correct posters were being installed. 

Wang said the inbound journey was excellent, and they were excited to use the new network. 

“Getting home was a completely different story.” 

He said there were “major crowds and delays” and little clear communication from staff about available transport services. 

When his family arrived at Grafton platform, they were told their train would terminate at Penrose rather than Onehunga. 

“We knew this before boarding. We specifically spoke with AT staff on site about how we would get from Penrose to Onehunga and were reassured that a replacement rail bus would be waiting at Penrose to take passengers the remaining two stops,” Wang said. 

He said the family boarded the train on that basis. 

A fan told the Herald his family, who live in Onehunga, deliberately chose to use public transport to get to the game at Eden Park. Photo / Photosport 

When they arrived at Penrose, it was cold, windy and there was no replacement bus. 

Wang said about 30 other passengers, including families and older people, were waiting. 

“There was little or no clear information about when a bus would arrive or how passengers were supposed to get home,” he said. 

Wang said they had no option but to order an Uber, which was difficult due to demand. 

He said one driver cancelled their trip before they finally secured another ride. 

“For me, the issue isn’t simply that a train service was disrupted or terminated at Penrose. Large events can create transport challenges. 

“The issue is that we were given specific information by AT staff that a replacement bus would be available, relied on that information, and then arrived at Penrose to find that there was no bus and no clear alternative,” he said. 

Wang said that, had they known, they could have made other arrangements. 

An AT spokesperson said the bus operator confirmed rail replacement buses were running between Penrose and Onehunga from 4.30pm to midnight. 

“However, rail replacement buses at Penrose Station have recently moved to a different bus stop, from Station Rd to Great South Rd,” the spokesperson said. 

The alternative transport poster at Penrose still showed the old rail replacement bus stops on Station Rd, so these customers may have waited there. 

“We are sorry for this and currently in the process of installing the correct posters across the network.” 

Auckland Transport has apologised after passengers were left stranded in Penrose after the Warriors game. Photo / Annaleise Shortland 

AT said as the Eden Park match was scheduled at short notice they could not operate the optimal number of trains for a large event. 

An estimated 15,720 people arrived at the match by train and 13,295 went home by train.